Life Your Way {Full}

37 Eat Well, Spend Less Potluck Dishes for Summer

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:27:52 GMT

Source: Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family

This month’s Eat Well, Spend Less theme entertaining on a budget, and we’re talking about parties, barbecues, picnics and more, and I’m chiming in with healthy potluck recipes you can take to your next potluck:

In all honesty, my favorite potluck dish growing up was watergate salad, full of marshmallows, pineapple and nuts, but I’m not sure how well it qualifies for the “eat well” part of our series with its processed frozen whipped topping and instant pudding mix. That said, I think I’ll be adding this to our meal plan for Memorial Day because surely every kid needs to have it at least once it their life, right?

Head here to see which recipes made my list.

37 Eat Well, Spend Less Potluck Dishes for Summer is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Food Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Bookmaking for Kids: Accordion Envelope Books

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:38 GMT

The following post is from Kristina of Toddler Approved:

source: Kristina Buskirk

Bookmaking is a simple and fun way to get kids excited about reading and writing. When I was an elementary school teacher, bookmaking was always a favorite activity. I’ve recently started making books with my five year old, and he is now obsessed!

Simple accordion envelope books are an easy project for kids of all ages. They can also be turned into little gifts or cards for special people. Younger kids can just decorate or add stickers to the inserted pages and older kids can assemble the books and make mini books to go inside each pocket! Bookmaking can go on for hours or even days.

source: Kristina Buskirk

Supplies:

envelopes (I used 6 multicolored envelopes that were all the same size)
glue stick
hole punch
twine or ribbon
scissors
cardstock
markers/crayons

Directions:

Grab a bunch of envelopes and have the kids select which ones they want to use for their book. Make sure all of your envelopes are the same size. This is a fun way to practice patterning.

Using a glue stick, have the kids glue the envelope fold of one envelope to the backside of another envelope. Make sure all envelopes are lined up. Make the book as long as you want. When you are done, you should have one end that still has a triangle fold exposed, the rest should look like little pockets.

Once the envelopes are dry, fold them in accordion style so that every other one goes a different direction. The first envelope should be able to close and will end up being the cover of your book.

Hole punch the edge of the triangle fold on the first envelope. Loop a piece of ribbon or twine through the hole to create two ties. Close the book, wrap the ties around, knot them and you have a completed book!

We like to cut cardstock to go inside each envelope or make little books that fit perfectly. The littler the book, the more fun it is for older kids.

source: Kristina Buskirk

In addition to creating their own stories to go inside the pockets, kids could make an accordion envelope book for someone special. For a teacher gift, they could write special notes inside each pocket to share why they love their teacher. For a Father’s Day gift, they could write down activities that they want to do with their dad.

If your kids enjoy this activity, here are a few other fun bookmaking activities for kids that we’ve tried:

Paper clip Journals via Imagination Soup
Paper bag Books via Toddler Approved
Simple Book from One Sheet of Paper via Lauren Stringer

Have you ever made books with your kids?


	Kristina is a mom of 2 and a former Special Ed teacher for children with communication disabilities. She blogs at Toddler Approved as she looks for ways to make life a little more fun and creative with her kids while embedding learning into everything that she does. Kristina tweets as @ToddlerApproved and can be found on FB and Pinterest.

Bookmaking for Kids: Accordion Envelope Books is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Family Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Printable Father’s Day Tie Cards

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:30:50 GMT

The following post is from Jason & Jennifer Bruce of New Season Design:

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and I’m sure the kids are going to want to make something fun just for Dad!

Have them break out the crayons, markers, and colored pencils and create a tie card just for him. You can choose stripes or polka dots, or create your own design using the blank tie template. (It might even be fun to draw Dad on his tie card!)

Color your design, cut on the lines, and fold right above the knot.

Then add your own message inside the tie, and surprise Dad with a unique card. He can tell all his friends that you got him a tie for Father’s Day!

Click here to download or print your tie cards.

How do you celebrate Father’s Day?


	Jason & Jennifer Bruce are the husband-and-wife design team behind New Season Design, where they work together to help clients put their best foot forward online. Jason is a pastor-turned-graphic designer, and Jennifer is a teacher-turned-blog designer who also blogs at The Simple Pen about life, learning and the things she loves.

Printable Father’s Day Tie Cards is a post from Life Your Way

Surviving Summer Cookouts on an Allergy-Friendly Diet

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:15 GMT

The following post is from Amy of Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free:

source: iStock Photos

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and so are lots of summer cookouts, picnics, and BBQs.

Anyone on a restricted diet will tell you that invitations to these events can cause waves of anxiety, especially if the dietary change is new.

Do you accept the invitation? If so, do you eat? Will there be anything to eat? And, if you’ve got children who have specific dietary needs, how do you handle that?

Take a deep breath! It’s simpler than it may seem. Here are five simple survival tips that will ensure that you enjoy the event.

Eat before you show up.

This was my first line of defense for many years, especially when I didn’t have a close relationship with the hostess. I still use it today in certain situations, and it’s likely I’ll pack a snack or two if the event is long. I used to worry that people would wonder why I wasn’t eating, or why I was only eating fruits and veggies. I quickly learned that most people aren’t that concerned with my food.

Ask the hostess ahead of time about the menu.

I am most comfortable using this survival tip when I have a relationship with the hostess, if the event is intimate, or if they already know I can’t eat wheat or refined white sugar. I learned to do this the hard way. I was invited to a dinner party, and there were eight people in attendance, including my husband and I. I didn’t make the call ahead of time because I was worried about ‘causing a problem.’ I couldn’t eat anything that was served. The hostess was so embarrassed, though she gracefully whipped up a salad for my entree and some fresh fruit for dessert. I felt horrible and vowed I’d never put anyone in that position again.

Offer to bring food.

We were recently invited to a a three-year-old’s birthday party. Nate, my 15 month-old son, is gluten-free and dairy-free. I would have never contacted the hostess, but I couldn’t take him to a party where he couldn’t eat anything. So, I offered to bring dessert. She was quite gracious and accepted. This works well with dinner parties, too. Most of my friends and family are happy to have me bring a dish or two to share with everyone. And, I’m happy because I can eat.

Advocate for your children

Even when I’m attending a family get-together and everyone there knows about Nate’s diet, they often forget when it comes to planning the menu. I’ve learned that it’s not personal at all. People naturally revert to what they know when cooking and baking. I’ve had to constantly remind people that I need to have food that Nate can eat. Sometimes I feel like a broken record, but it’s my responsibility to take care of my son’s needs. This is another time when I offer to cook.

Don’t focus on the food.

As long as you or your child has an adequate meal, let the rest of it go. Learn to enjoy the people you’re with, even if you can’t share in the exact same meal they’re eating. It’s easy to feel on the outside when everyone else is eating cheeseburgers on tasty buns, and you’ve got a plate full of lettuce. Remember that the most important thing is spending time with those around you.

How do you handle meals? If you’re hosting an event, what do you do to include those who have food allergies?


	A stay-at-home mom, wife, and passionate cook, Amy strives to make each meal healthy and delicious. When she’s not doing laundry, dishes, or caring for her son, she plays around with food in the kitchen developing new recipes, which she shares at Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free. Amy also publishes The Balanced Platter and authored the book Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free: 180 Easy & Delicious Recipes You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less.

Surviving Summer Cookouts on an Allergy-Friendly Diet is a post from Life Your Way

Cooper Tires #SpringSavings Event Through 6/30

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:08:29 GMT

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Cooper Tires for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

We spend a lot of time in the car each week — driving to and from “town” and visiting family in neighboring states. One of my least favorite ways to spend money is on basic car maintenance, but because of the number of miles we drive over the mountains each and every week, it’s unfortunately a hefty part of our budget!

If you’re in the market for new tires, don’t wait until you’re fishtailing down the road (like a certain, ahem, family I know did this past Christmas Eve!). Instead, pick up all new tires during the Cooper Tire Spring Savings Event between now and June 30!

When you purchase a new set of four qualifying Cooper tires through participating dealers in the U.S., Canada or Puerto Rico, you’ll be eligible to receive up to an $80 Visa prepaid card to use for a fun family outing this summer!

There’s tires for everyone, and Spring Savings Event eligible products include:

CS4 Touring
Discoverer CTS
Cooper Zeon RS3-S and RS3-A
Discoverer H/T
Discoverer HTP (available only at select U.S. retailers.)
Discoverer LSX and LSX Plus (available only at select U.S. retailers.)

Head here to find a local dealer and get your new tires ordered today!

Cooper Tires #SpringSavings Event Through 6/30 is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Money Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Weekly Reads + Your Favorite Genre {5/20/13}

Mon, 20 May 2013 18:04:10 GMT

Success! I actually read a book (or most of a book, LOL!) this week. I have a lot of work projects to do before the baby arrives, and while 5 months seems like a long time, I know it will go faster than we think, so I’m trying to make time for reading without sacrificing all of my project time. It’s a hard balance, especially because I’m have an all-or-nothing personality, but Good Reads informs me that I’m still ahead of schedule with 40 books read so far this year, so maybe there’s still hope of meeting my goal!

Head here to see Katie’s post for this week. We also want to know what you’re reading! Add your blog post to the linky below or leave a comment with your favorite reads from this week.

This Week’s Reads

When Love Calls (The Gregory Sisters Book #1) by Lorna Seilstad

Revell sent me a copy of When Love Calls to review, and although I carried it to Florida and back without so much as cracking it open, I’ve really enjoyed the sweetness of this love story this week.

When Hannah Gregory and her sisters are orphaned in the early 1900s, Hannah — an unconventional and sometimes irreverent young woman — is forced to quit law school to support her two younger sisters. She takes a job as a Hello Girl for the local telephone company in the midst of a union battle and is forced to follow strict rules of conduct in order to maintain her position — a task that she finds harder than the work itself. As she’s thrown together time and time again with a young and upcoming lawyer, Lincoln Cole, she finds herself resisting the budding romance despite Lincoln’s attempts at a more serious relationship.

What I really love about this book is the level of historical detail. From their speech and mannerisms to their clothing and automobiles, everything is described in exquisite detail that makes me feel as if I’m actually in the early twentieth century with the characters!

When Love Calls is available now from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A Question for You

I have always loved historical fiction, but lately dystopian has been a close second as my favorite genre. Unfortunately, I think there is a lot more quality historical fiction on the market (and definitely a lot more historical fiction in general!) than there is dystopian, which means historical remains at the top purely because there’s more of it to read and enjoy. And because they offer different benefits — learning about different eras and events through the lens of a historical fiction book versus forcing me to really stop and think through a dystopian book — they really each have their own appeal.

What about you? What’s your favorite genre of book? Has it changed over time? What do you love about it?

Share Your Reading List


	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

When Love Calls

Weekly Reads + Your Favorite Genre {5/20/13} is a post from Life Your Way

10 Ways to Create a Beautiful Summer Porch

Mon, 20 May 2013 13:00:02 GMT

The following post is from Lisa of The Pennington Point:

source: The Pennington Point

Ahhhh….summer is right around the corner. Outdoor grilling, swimming, heat, relaxing as a family. These are staples of summer in our family.

One thing I love is to sit outside with the family and hang out. In my mind, I can see Sheriff Taylor and Barney rocking on the porch playing old hymns and drinking lemonade. The good old days of people just being together with no electronics and no crazy schedules.

One way to encourage a good old-fashioned summer afternoon is by creating a welcoming, beautiful summer porch atmosphere. I have a big front porch (that we added on ourselves) but even a small porch can be inviting. Here are a few things you can do to add summer to your porch.

1.Bunting

source: The Pennington Point

Summer, bunting, apple pie and hot dogs. Right? If you have a porch rail or a good spot across the roof, bunting makes the house feel like summer! I got mine at the local hardware store.

2. Rocking Chairs

source: The Pennington Point

Like Andy and Barney, the rocking chair is essential to creating a cozy, front porch environment. If you have even the smallest porch space, try finding room for a rocking chair (or two!).

3. Ferns

source:The Pennington Point

What says classic front porch more than ferns? And they are so affordable! I got some last week for less than $7 each with the hooks all ready to hang.

4. Painted Rug

source: The Pennington Point

I love a little bit of the unexpected. Painting a rug on the floor is an easy, affordable way to dress up the porch. PLUS, it’s easy to change when you’re looking for a pick-me-up.

5. Evening Lights

source: The Pennington Point

A soft glow in the evening is a beautiful way to close out the day. I put Christmas lights along the edge of the ceiling and plug them in as the sun starts to set.

6. Fans

source: The Pennington Point

Here in Texas you need a breeze to cool you off. Be sure to use fans made for the outdoors. They cost a little more, but they will last longer.

7. Vines

source: The Pennington Point

It is so easy to grow vines along a porch rail. I planted jasmine a few years ago, and it comes back every spring and summer with no effort from me.

8. Swing

source: The Pennington Point

A swing invites adults and kids alike to sit a spell and enjoy the warm summer afternoon. I didn’t have room for a swing right on the porch, so I hung one right in front of the porch steps.

9. Color

source: Imparting Grace

A pop of color makes the porch playful and fun. Flowers are great for adding color. If you’re like me and you have a black thumb, you can use a bright accessory like pillows or a sign.

10. Toys

source: The Pennington Point

We keep wooden toys in a basket on our porch. It’s perfect for the little ones that can’t run off and play while moms sit and visit.

Do you have a porch you can make beautiful for summer?


	Lisa winds through her little Texas farm house every night, tucking in her nine homeschooled children and turning off lights. Then she scans the rooms & makes a mental list of what she wants to rearrange, restore or paint. Her husband of 27 years hangs on for the ride while she blogs about it over at The Pennington Point.

10 Ways to Create a Beautiful Summer Porch is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of DIY Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Get 5 Real Food eBooks from Kitchen Stewardship for Just $7.40 {BundleoftheWeek.com}

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:03:40 GMT

This week at BundleoftheWeek.com, add five Kitchen Stewardship ebooks to your library at a fraction of their regular price! Whether you’re already a fan of the talented Katie Kimball or just hearing about these ebooks for the first time, this collection of real food ebooks includes not just recipes but plenty of information to empower you on your real food journey — and it’s available at almost 80% off retail this week only. Plus, purchasers will receive a special coupon code to purchase Katie’s latest ebook, Better Than a Box, at just 50%!

From soaking grains and using beans to stretch your budget to dozens of snack recipes for busy families on the go and tasty desserts that won’t leave you feeling deprived, Katie’s ebooks offer recipes and kitchen tips for every meal of the day.

P.S. Even if you’ve already got one or two of these ebooks in your collection, this collection offers a great value for the remaining books. And you’re welcome to pass on your duplicates to a friend or family member to encourage them in their real food journey as well!

With your purchase, you’ll get all five of the following ebooks:

Healthy Snacks to Go (2nd Edition) by Katie Kimball
The Everything Beans Book by Katie Kimball
Smart Sweets by Katie Kimball
Is Your Flour Wet? by Katie Kimball
The Family Camping Handbook by Katie Kimball

Get yours today!

Even if you’re not interested in this week’s bundle, be sure to sign up for the BundleoftheWeek.com weekly newsletter so you can be the first to know about the latest bundle:

Get 5 Real Food eBooks from Kitchen Stewardship for Just $7.40 {BundleoftheWeek.com} is a post from Life Your Way

Weekend Reading: May 18, 2013

Mandi — Sat, 18 May 2013 12:01:49 +0000

source: mandiehman on Instagram

I was a little worried that our girls would have trouble readjusting to “normal” life after three weeks in Florida and four days in Disney World, so I couldn’t help but be relieved when they woke up early on Tuesday morning and immediately headed outside to play, building a pioneer stove, riding their bikes and generally enjoying the freedom of the boonies. Although the heat drove them indoors later in the week, they continued their imaginative play with massive kitchen forts, princess and pirate dress up costumes and crafts of all kids.

It was definitely a proud mama moment to watch them jump right back into the kind of free play that is a hallmark of our values and parenting style, and I kinda want a fort like the one above just for myself!

Have you subscribed to our new weekly newsletter? Check out this week’s issue here and then be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future issues!

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!

Motherhood {Embrace Who You Are}

For the Mom Who Hates the Swings. | The Happiest Home

Real Moms Don’t Cook | NYTimes.com

The Perfect Mom Fallacy | Finding Joy

Family {Kids Will Be Kids}

Playing in the Grass May be the Key to Easing ADHD Symptoms | Inhabitots

Safety Second (Or Maybe Even Third) | Free Range Kids

Homeschool Versus Public School: A Few Thoughts | Writing and Living

Disney {On Princesses & Little Girls}

A Princess Paradigm Shift | The Simple Pen

This is the REAL Merida | Resourceful Mommy

Have a great weekend!

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekend Reading: May 18, 2013 is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Life Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

]]>

Comments

By: Homemaking | Pearltrees by Homemaking | Pearltrees

Five Ways to Get Ready for Next School Year

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:30:18 GMT

The following post is from Angie of Many Little Blessings:

source: Lyn Lomasi

Although some homeschoolers do year round school, most homeschoolers are gearing up for a full or partial summer vacation in the next month. This offers homeschool parents a great opportunity to regroup and get ready for next school year. With just a few steps, you can help your family get ready for the next school year.

Here are the steps to get you in gear for next year:

Begin sorting through materials you’ve completed.

As you wrap up your school year, you need to decide what to do with all of your completed materials. If you have books or resources that you plan to use again in the future, but not for the next school year, you should find a plan to store them where you can easily find them again. In our small home, we have opted for a few under bed storage containers to store things we want to use again in the future.

If you have finished non-consumable materials that you don’t plan to use again, you need to decide whether you would like to just gift these to another family who might have need for them or if you would like to try to sell your old homeschool materials in order to use money for next year’s materials.

Attend a homeschool convention.

If you haven’t already found a homeschool convention to attend this year, it’s not too late to find one. These can help you learn about new ideas and tips from speakers, as well as a chance to view many homeschool materials in person at a vendor area. The vendor area is always a draw for me at any homeschool convention because you are able to learn so much more about the resource than just by reading about it and seeing a few samples online.

Organize your homeschool area.

Whether you are able to devote a whole room in your house to your homeschooling or you just have a closet or some boxes with materials, it is still important to make sure that your area is neat and organized. This becomes especially paramount at a time when you might be buying new materials for next year. Imagine the frustration you might feel if you order a new spelling book for little Janie, only to find that you had an extra one that you purchased for her last year when you found a good sale.

Organizing is a perfect time to take stock of what you had, make note of the materials that you were sure your family would love but that still sit untouched, and just make the whole area more user friendly.

Talk to your kids about what they would like to study.

As children get older, it becomes more important to get some feedback from them about what they would like to be studying in school. While I’m not suggesting that they get the final choice on everything, it can be nice to add in some of the things they are especially interested in. Doing this now can help you to have some time to make those additions to your school year for next year.

Read homeschool related books.

When you have some summer downtime, it can be the perfect time to finally find a moment to read a book that might help you get some new ideas to implement for next school year. Whether it’s a book to help you in the future (such as homeschooling in high school, if you have younger children) or a book that might help right now (like a new homeschooling method that you would like to try), it can be the perfect time to sit out on the porch and enjoy some restful reading time.

What are some things that you do in the summer to help you get ready for next school year?

	Angie, a domestically-challenged writer and artist, is a homeschooling mom to three children. She writes about everything that happens in their lives between all the loads of laundry at Many Little Blessings. She is also the founder of The Homeschool Classroom, Catholic Mothers Online, and Just a Tiny Owl.

Five Ways to Get Ready for Next School Year is a post from Life Your Way

How to Have a Chilled Out Summer Routine & Make Working from Home Easy

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:07 GMT

The following post is from Prerna of The Mom Writes:

source: pixabay

Ahh.. the summer! We look forward to it and yet we dread it. We want the season to be filled with fun for the kids, but we also know that we need to get work done in the midst of it all.

How does one juggle everything and stay sane as well?

Here are 5 super-effective ways to cool down the heat this summer for fun and work:

1. Plan NOW.

That’s right. Planning ahead of time will help you be prepared when school is actually out. Jot down a routine that you’d follow. Outline activities to keep the kids busy while you knock off email or other tasks. Talk to other parents for play date swaps. Find a camp close to home for the kids to go to for a few hours every day. Planning now will go a LONG way in saving your sanity then.

2. Focus on essentials.

The slow summer season is NOT the time for you to be worrying about add-on projects or activities that can wait. Focus only on what really needs to be done from a work point-of-view. Everything else can wait. It can. Take a deep breath and tell yourself that.

3. Tackle productivity slumps.

The long, lazy summer days and the kids at home can all put you in a “holiday” mood with your productivity slumping every now and then. Tackling productivity slumps and getting your mojo back will ensure that you bounce back with ease.

4. Get support.

The summer is the perfect time to seek support. The best part is that you don’t have to shell out a lot or sign up for daycare. Think out-of-the box. How about a tween who’s home from school and who’ll be happy to earn a few dollars every week? Or how about a day summer camp where the kids can learn life skills while you knock off work for a few hours? Or how about asking your spouse if he or she can come home early a few days in the week so that you can escape to the coffee shop for work? Yes, you may need to use a combination of support systems to keep things running smoothly. That is why planning right now is so important.

5. Go easy.

Finally, remember that the summer is not going to last forever. School is going to start. Kids will go back to a routine. Your work will pick up. So, for now, go easy on yourself and everyone else. Savor the season and enjoy it.

What tips do YOU have for chilling out this summer as a work-at-home parent?

	Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in being postively productive, parenting with love and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her journey and experiences with productivity and parenting at The Mom Writes.

How to Have a Chilled Out Summer Routine & Make Working from Home Easy is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Work Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

9 Tips to Help You Save Money & Enjoy Your Disney World Trip More

Thu, 16 May 2013 22:02:01 GMT

source: Mandi Ehman

Although we’ve been to Disney quite a few times, I am far from a Disney expert. (But I did have fun playing tour guide for Amy and her family on their first day in Magic Kingdom!)

While I can’t give you the lowdown on every ride and attraction, and I happily turned over my tour guide status to Shannon’s husband on our final day in the park, I have learned a few tricks that make Disney a more affordable and more magical experience, especially with little ones!

So, in no particular order, here are my top tips for making the most of your time and budget at Disney World:

1. Go in the off-season.

I know…this one seems a little obvious, but truly, the crowd levels in a month like October are so much lower than May through August, so if you can take advantage of those off-season months, do.

2. Rest in the morning and enjoy the parks in the afternoons and evenings.

If off-season isn’t an option for you — or, really, even if it is — my favorite discovery this year was how much more fun the parks are in the late afternoon and evening. All of the people who showed up when the park opened have started to leave, the sun is going down and taking the heat and humidity with it, and there’s still a ton to do.

Use the black out curtains in the hotel room to your advantage, letting little ones sleep as late as possible, enjoy a nice and relaxed breakfast and swim in the hotel pool, and then head to the parks mid-afternoon and party the night away!

3. Take advantage of the budget resorts for the full Disney experience.

We’ve always stayed off-site during our Disney vacations, except for two nights in an RV at Fort Wilderness, but I’m pretty sold on the value of the budget resorts after our most recent trip. Not only does staying on-site allow you take advantage of special offers like Disney Dining Plans and Extra Magic Hours, but the resorts themselves have cool themes — from Art of Animation featuring your favorite characters to All-Star Sports with a huge football field right in the middle — and the rooms are pretty magical too.

My only complaint about our Ariel room at the Art of Animation (which is basically a classic motel room decked out in Little Mermaid decor) was that the mattresses were noisy, and I woke up whenever one of my kids rolled over. In fairness, though, I asked around and no one else had that issue, plus the room was clean, the pool areas were amazing, and the price was right at just $119/night.

4. Use your FastPasses!

Like I mentioned yesterday, this was my first time taking advantage of the FastPass system, and I’m now sold on the benefits. You’ll spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying the magic of the parks with just a little more pre-planning and intentionality!

source: Resourceful Mommy

5. Bring your own glowsticks.

I know this sounds silly compared to some of the “big” tips in this post, but it’s one of our favorites. Grab a pack of glow sticks at your local dollar store or party outlet and light ‘em all up for the fireworks! Not only will you save money over the more expensive glow items available in the park, but they’re also a great distraction for kids while you wait for the parades or fireworks.

6. Split meals among children.

My kids are not big eaters when they’re excited, so to cut down on wasted money and food, I often split a kids’ meal between two of them or an adult meal between three of them. It’s easy enough to order more food from a restaurant or counter service, and I’d rather do that than throw away a perfectly good meal because they weren’t interested!

7. Pack snacks and water.

Similarly, we pack lots of snacks and plenty of water for our girls so that when they do get hungry, we have something available for them. This time I picked up a huge box of GoGo Squeez applesauce from Amazon before our trip (on sale, of course), and those made the perfect snack between meals all weekend long.

We also brought our own water bottles and carted a gallon (or two) of water around in the bottom of our stroller so that we could refill them all day long!

8. Rent a stroller.

This is not exactly a money saver, but we rented a stroller for the first time this year, and it was so nice to just have a beautiful double stroller show up at our resort! It came with a small cooler for our snacks, plenty of storage underneath and a handy caddy for water bottles and miscellanea on the handle. Although it was an additional expense for our trip, the convenience of having a stroller for two kids plus all our stuff (as opposed to a single umbrella stroller) definitely outweighed the cost.

source: Mandi Ehman

9. Hold your plans loosely.

My biggest piece of advice for Disney World? Make plans, scout out the attractions you’d like to see…and then hold it all very loosely so you can go with the flow!

Sometimes it feels like you’re in a time warp and everything is taking three times as long as you’d like. Sometimes you’ll come across a parade or street show that you want to stop and watch. And sometimes you’ll just need to find a bench and sit for a few minutes while the kids enjoy an ice cream cone to help everyone adjust their attitudes and prepare for more fun. Plans are good, but if you hold them too tightly, you will probably end up frustrated and disappointed, no matter how much magic you encounter around you.

We received discounted Disney World tickets and accommodations as part of our conference fee for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference, but as always, all opinions are 100% mine!

What’s your best Disney World tip? Do you disagree with any of my tips?

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

9 Tips to Help You Save Money & Enjoy Your Disney World Trip More is a post from Life Your Way

The 2013 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen Printable Cheat Sheet

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:02:48 GMT

The Dirty Dozen is a list published by the Environmental Working Group that prioritizes the fruits and veggies that you should buy organic because of their high levels of pesticide residue.

The EWG’s still stresses the importance of eating lots of fruits and veggies — organic or not — but if you can only afford to buy some organic produce, you’ll want to start with the Dirty Dozen. To put your mind at ease, they’ve also published the Clean Fifteen, which lists produce that has low levels of pesticide residue so there’s no need to spend more on organically grown varieties.

Here is the 2013 list, plus a printable cheat sheet from the EWG to carry with you!

The Dirty Dozen

Produce that should be purchased organically:

1. apples
2. celery
3. cherry tomatoes
4. cucumber
5. grapes
6. hot peppers
7. nectarines (imported)
8. peaches
9. potatoes
10. spinach
11. strawberries
12. sweet bell peppers
…plus collards & kale
…plus summer squash & zucchini

The Clean Fifteen

Produce that is safe to purchase conventionally:

1. asparagus
2. avocado
3. cabbage
4. cantaloupe
5. corn
6. eggplant
7. grapefruit
8. kiwi
9. mangoes
10. mushrooms
11. onions
12. papayas
13. pineapples
14. sweet peas (frozen)
15. sweet potatoes

Do you follow the EWG’s guidelines for produce?

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

The 2013 Dirty Dozen & Clean Fifteen Printable Cheat Sheet is a post from Life Your Way

Make This Year the Best Summer Ever with the 2013 Summer Survival Calendar

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:01:07 GMT

Can you believe summer is almost here? With June right around the corner, Pinterest and the blogosphere are buzzing with with summer activities and recipes! The problem isn’t finding inspiration but figuring out which activities you want to do with your kids and what materials you’ll need to make it happen.

We’ve found that our children do best during the summer when we have some structure to our day without being overscheduled. It still allows them to get bored and have to use their imagination but prevents them from getting so bored that all they do is fight and whine.

However, summer seems to fly by a little faster each year, and it never quite looks the way I expected. I long for the lazy days of summer, without a ton of commitments or places to go, but I also wish for ways to mark these days as special — a little activity, a special frozen treat, a picnic in the backyard.

Enter the 2013 Summer Survival Calendar:

Susan from The Confident Mom wants to help you take charge of your summer and make it the summer you’ve always dreamed of with the 2013 Summer Survival Calendar. (And if you bought last year’s calendar, you’ll be happy to know this year’s activities are almost all new!)

The 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a four month calendar with over 120 activities targeted for ages 3-12 to blast boredom and increase family time. It features at least one low-budget (and sometimes free) activity, craft project, or kid-friendly recipe every day from May 1 to August 31.

The Summer Survival Calendar keeps kids busy, happy, and engaged during those long, hot summer days—and moms will find it to be a lifesaver when kids exhibit symptoms of the “boredom blues.”

You’ll also find printable calendars, planning tools and worksheets to help you organize and plan your summer, plus an optional action guide and audio workshop to help you make the most of your summer!

Click here to get your 2013 Summer Survival Calendar now. Save $2 off the Summer Calendar + Action Guide Bundle with coupon code LYWSUMMER. Expires 5/23.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Confident Mom, but all opinions are 100% my own!

Make This Year the Best Summer Ever with the 2013 Summer Survival Calendar is a post from Life Your Way

Photos & Stories from Disney World

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:30:04 GMT

source: Josh Hallett

Did you know our family was in Disney World last week?! If you read many posts here or follow me on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, you probably did. Sorry about that — we were pretty excited leading up to the Disney Social Media Moms Conference!

Our family loves Disney World, and because we have family in Florida, we’ve been lucky enough to make several day trips to the “happiest place on Earth” as well as one longer trip with my parents.

source: Shannon’s Table

From left to right: me, Amy, Amy, Shannon, Amy & Jennifer

This trip was extra special, though, not only because we were attending an invitation-only conference put on by the amazing team at Disney, but also because some of my closest friends were there too. It’s rare in life to find a group of friends as diverse as this (in background, politics, perspective and more) that gets along so incredibly well, and we were over-the-moon excited that our in-person chat sessions were just as good as our Skype chats and that all of our children and husbands enjoyed each other as much as we do!

Before our trip, Disney announced their brand new Story app, which allows you to tell your own stories in pictures and words and share them on Facebook or via email. I put together a brief recap of our trip with the photos on my phone. Sadly, between juggling a fussy three-year-old and an iPhone battery that kept dying, I didn’t take as many pictures as I’d hoped too, but I love the story that the ones I did take tells:

Some of our favorite moments were attending Merida’s Royal Celebration, the big girls’ first ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (they loved it!), sleeping in an Ariel room at the Art of Animation resort (our two-year-old was asleep when they got there and the next morning she woke up and stood in awe in the middle of the room just taking it all in!) and watching the Wishes fireworks from the courtyard of the Contemporary resort with some of our friends!

Of course, Disney didn’t invite us there just to knock our socks off; they also used the opportunity to tell us about some of the things they have on the horizon. A few of these are really cool, and I’m excited to share them with you as well:

Magic of Healthy Living
Disney’s Magic of Healthy Living initiative is an unprecendented commitment from a major media corporation to encourage healthy eating and exercise habits in children. With new advertising standards in place to ensure that the food promoted to kids meets their nutritional guidelines, the TryIt! campaign to encourage kids to try new foods and activities and the Mickey Check system to highlight and promote healthier foods in the parks and at grocery stores, Disney is a leader in this area.

I, for one, was happy to see lots of fresh fruit and veggie options with all of our meals and at restaurants, concession stands and cafes throughout the parks and resorts!

More FastPass attractions
Our family has never really taken advantage of the FastPasses at Disney, mostly because we’ve been there off-season and haven’t really needed to — although last trip we missed Dumbo completely because the line was so long (we made up for it by riding it twice this year!). However, we did use the FastPass system on this trip, and I’m sold on its benefits now!

Basically, a FastPass lets you hold your place in line without actually standing in line. You insert your ticket into a FastPass machine to print a FastPass that lets you skip the line when you come back during a certain window of time. So, for example, if you go to Dumbo at 1:35pm, and there’s a 45 minute wait, you can head to the FastPass machine and print a FastPass that tells you to come back between 2:45pm and 3:45pm, and when you come back, you get to go through a separate line that basically puts you at the front. Cool, right?

Well, the coolest part is that they announced at the conference that FastPasses are coming to more rides and attractions, including character meet & greets, in the future. It requires a little more planning on your part to make sure you gather your FastPasses and show up when you need to, but the planning is well worth making the most of your time and avoiding long lines, especially in the heat!

Disney Infinity
Disney also introduced us to their new Disney Infinity game system (available for Wii, Playstation 3 or Xbox 360), which will be released later this summer.

This unique toy-based video game allows kids to create their own games with their favorite Disney characters — customizing play worlds, mingling characters from various movies, solving puzzles and overcoming obstacles. The system literally lets kids design their own games, which they can then share with other players, and the tradeable play sets and figures work on all three systems. This is a video game that harnesses kids’ imagination rather than limiting them to the inventions of the video game creators, and while we’re not huge video game players here, I’m looking forward to getting this for the girls!

P.S. Right now you can enter to win one of three Disney Infinity Starter Packs on Facebook.

And More…

This post is getting long, so I’m going to stop there, but be sure to come back tomorrow for my top tips for enjoying Disney World with your family!

We received discounted Disney World tickets and accommodations as part of our conference fee for the Disney Social Media Moms Conference, but as always, all opinions are 100% mine!

Has your family been to Disney World? What is your favorite ride or attraction?

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Photos & Stories from Disney World is a post from Life Your Way

Keep Your Kids Reading with This Book Report Printable

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:30:46 GMT

The following post is from Kacey of Next Level Mama:

Source: iStockphoto

These days, there’s no shortage of distractions to keep our children occupied — video games, social media, TV, computers, smart phones, sports leagues, and on and on. However, with benefits like increased vocabulary, improved writing skills and creativity, it’s also important to make sure reading stays at the top of our kids’ activity schedule. As the saying goes, reading is fundamental!

One way to interest kids in reading is to encourage them to complete book reports, and this About My Book printable can get you started.

You can up the book report fun quotient by throwing in a few challenges. For example, have a competition to see who can complete the most reports. Another idea is to reward your kids with a special gift or treat after they complete a certain number of reports. You could even have themed-book report days based on your children’s interests or use the reports in conjunction with the summer reading program at your local library.

Click here to download or print the About My Book book report printable.

Whatever you do, keep them reading!

What other ways have you interested your children in books? Do you have trouble getting them to read?

	Kacey loves her kids to pieces and the many ways they’re refining her into a better person. She’s on a mission to inspire and encourage moms to take it to the next level. This die-hard Texas girl rarely meets a dessert she can refuse. You can find her at her blog, Next Level Mama, or tweeting away at @nextlevelmama.

Keep Your Kids Reading with This Book Report Printable is a post from Life Your Way

Steak and Egg Pasta

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:14 GMT

The following post is from Shaina of Food for My Family and Olmanson Photography:

source: Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family

I often end up with leftover steak. The thing is, we started buying a side of beef a few years ago. We split a whole cow with the neighbors, and we each take home an equal portion of the entire thing. It has saved us money on the price per pound of expensive cuts like steak, but it is also far cheaper than buying even conventional beef in the store. Cheaper grass-fed organic beef. Nothing to argue about.

The reason we end up with leftover steak, however, is that the cuts are packaged in brown paper when they arrive from the butcher. They are loaded into the freezer by type, and then when we pull them out of the freezer we often have these vexing issues: Do we need one package of steaks or two for six people?

It’s a simple issue, really, but the answer is usually we really need one and end up cooking two to be safe because we have four growing children, including a 13-year-old who eats more than I do. (I’d eat more if I swam 2 1/2 hours a day, too.) Enter: Leftover steak.

Now, we sometimes take our leftover steak and re-season it with fajita seasonings, add a few grilled peppers and onions and have a fiesta. Other times we slice it thin and heat it up with caramelized onions and top the whole thing off with a dose of cheese before adding it to a toasted bun. Then, there is the pasta.

Steak and eggs is traditional diner fare, but we’re serving it with a few sautéed greens over a creamy sauce and plenty of pasta. It’s breakfast for dinner, leftovers redone, and just plain good use of the food in the refrigerator at the end of the week.

Steak and Egg Pasta

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 20 mins

Total time: 30 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 shallot, minced
3 cups brussels sprouts, halved
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup cognac
1 cup heavy cream
1 lb cooked steak of choice, cut into pieces
4 eggs
1/2 lb spaghetti or fettuccine pasta, cooked
fresh cracked black pepper
minced parsley

Directions

Place the butter and oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add in the shallot and cook for 3 minutes.
Add the brussels sprouts to the pan and cook, turning once after about 4 minutes, until the cut sides start to turn a golden brown. Remove the brussels sprouts from the pan.
Deglaze the pan with the cognac. (At this point you can remove the pan from the heat, add a bit of flame to the alcohol and let it burn. It will flame, so be careful should you choose to do this.) Add in the cream and return the pan to a medium heat.
When the cream sauce starts to thicken, add the steak in and turn the heat to low to warm the steak.
Bring a pot of water to a simmer. Crack the four eggs into separate cups. Once the water is simmering, carefully pour each of the eggs into the water, at least 4″ apart. Turn off the heat and cover the pan for four minutes.
While you are waiting for the eggs, toss the pasta and the brussels sprouts with the cream sauce and steak and plate on four plates. Using a slotted spoon, remove the eggs from the water and top each plate with one egg. Sprinkle with black pepper and fresh herbs.

Do you have any other ways to use leftover steak?

	Shaina Olmanson is the home cook and photographer behind Food for My Family and the author of Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine. She is a contributor to Babble.com’s Family Kitchen Blog and the food channel on Lifetime Moms. Shaina can usually be found cooking, at the computer or behind the camera.

Steak and Egg Pasta is a post from Life Your Way

6 Ideas for Getting Mom into the Photo

Tue, 14 May 2013 21:30:59 GMT

The following post is from Krystal of Krystal Griffin Photography:

source: Krystal Griffin

Moms are often the memory keeper, and therefore, the ones who are usually missing in the photographs. If by chance those roles are flipped in your family, that’s okay — all these tips still apply to getting dad into photos. In either case it’s never okay to be missing from your family’s photographs. You can’t be absent from family history. Your family MUST be able to see you in their photographs!

If you aren’t crazy about getting in front of the camera, that is another topic for another day. But trust me when I say that your family will treasure your presence in your photographs, the same way they treasure you in their daily life.

I have six ideas to start getting you into the family photos:

source: Krystal Griffin

A six year old took this. I set up the basics for him and he did the rest. The camera was on manual and he could toggle the focus points. They really can do it. This photo isn’t perfect but I love it.

1. Teach your kids to use the camera.

Now, I have made this one easy for you and already provided some suggestions to get you started in this post. Your kids may not take perfect pictures, and they may have to take a few extras before you all make it into the frame. But you don’t need perfect pictures, just memories recorded. You also might find that you enjoy those images taken from their perspective.

2. Teach your spouse.

This tip isn’t much different than the last. If your spouse doesn’t know what to do with the camera, show them. Keep it simple and you will both be happy. Your spouse may already know how to use the camera and take some great photos. This is my situation and all I really need to do is remember to hand the camera over more often.

source: Krystal Griffin

3. Take a reflection shot.

We have all seen (or taken) those bathroom mirror shots that end up as a Facebook profile. While they sometimes seem cheesy (usually accompanied by the duck face and some squished eyes), there is a lot of promise in that method. A mirror in your home is a great way to photograph you with a child or your spouse. Large dark windows (the kind on a store front or museum) are also a great spot to get a reflection. Even a large puddle or a wet sand bar will work well.

4. Use a self-timer or remote trigger.

Most cameras come with a self-timer and they are pretty easy to use. Pull out your manual (Google the instructions if you lost the manual) and start to practice. If you practice when it doesn’t matter, you will be a pro when you really want it to work. Another option is a remote trigger or shutter release. Most camera models are compatible with at least one remote. They are a pretty cheap item to buy and really easy to use.

source: Krystal Griffin

5. Ask a stranger.

Yes, the traditional stand by, “Will you take our picture?” works wonders. Get your spot picked out, frame your photo up and find some generous soul who will help you. I often look for someone who is also trying to get a picture and offer to take theirs while asking them to take ours. If you are concerned about handing your valuable camera over to a stranger, consider who you choose to give it to. A mother with a stroller, an elderly couple or an employee of your destination is not likely to take off with your camera.

6. Pay someone.

While it is important to do all you can to chronicle your everyday life, and keep all family members in those photos, there is something to be said for hiring someone to photograph you and your family. A professional will be well worth your money to capture photos of you and your family just as you are right now. If you aren’t ready for a big family session, or you already did one, you might consider finding a mini-session. These are great for Mommy and Me photos or a few updated photos of just you. There are many kinds of sessions available with a professional:anniversary, family, modern glamour, lifestyle, etc. Any professional will help you get what you need with just a simple phone call.

source: Krystal Griffin

How do you get into your family photographs?

	Krystal is a stay-at-home mom of four children, ages 4-9, whom she homeschools. She is acutely aware of how fast her children are changing and is passionate about keeping family memories alive through photographs. Now and then she gets to help other families’ bottle up their own memories at Krystal Griffin Photography.

6 Ideas for Getting Mom into the Photo is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Tech Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

How to Make Cleaning Fun for Kids

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:30:14 GMT

The following post is from Amanda of OhAmanda.com:

source: ntr23

I used to teach Bible stories in our church’s preschool class. When I walked in, we’d all sing, “It’s clean up time, it’s clean up time, let’s put the toys away…” And what do you know? Those little preschoolers and toddlers would hop right up, put their toys away without a complaint or a pout.

Now, I have a preschooler and an elementary aged kid of my own. I wish I could just turn on some music that would magically make them clean their rooms or pick up their toys around the house.

Instead of harping, nagging and hounding my kids into picking up their mess, I try to think of different ways to encourage them and even add incentives to motivate them to clean up.

Here are a few ideas to help make picking up and cleaning up fun…ok, well, at least a little more fun:

1. Make a checklist.

Write a checklist on a chalkboard, a piece of paper or even on an easel if you have one. Pick the five things that need to be cleaned the most and write (or draw pictures of them for your non-readers) them down. Then, let the kids check them off when they are done. Using a marker on a whiteboard is somehow incentive enough for my kids to keep working!

2. Make a pile.

Sometimes when every toy, game piece and crayon is scattered from hither to yon in the playroom, I can see my kids’ eyes glaze over at the enormity of the task. So, I’ll bulldoze everything into a pile on the floor. Then we’ll race to see how quickly we can get the pile eliminated.

Taking away the whole “what should I clean first” problem helps them stay focused on actually doing the cleaning!

3. Make a square.

I know when I’ve got a big mess to clean up, I have to take it in small portions. Cleaning the whole kitchen overwhelms me but, picking up the dirty glasses, I can do!

To help my kids keep the small tasks in front of them, I’ll mark off a space in their room, “Only clean up what’s on the floor in between the closet and the desk.” That’s an easy, doable task and helps them be confident to go onto the next space.

4. Make a game.

Some kids need a reward. Try picking a simple prize (our favorite is a handful of chocolate chips) then set a timer for 10-15 minutes. As you pick up items and put them away (in their correct spot), count each one. Whoever has put away the most things when the timer goes off gets the prize. (We usually let the winner decide if the rest of us gets the prize, too. And they usually say yes. And everybody wins!)

This doesn’t make cleaning their favorite thing to do, but it certainly makes the chore go by more quickly. Regardless of what we clean or how we do it, I try to always keep the focus on taking care of our family. We keep our home clean because we want to honor our family–the stuff we have, the people who use it, the people who bought it and the space we share. Cleaning together also promotes belonging, helpfulness and servanthood. I want to use everything I can (even cleaning up) to bring fun and togetherness to our family!

What’s your favorite creative way to clean the house with your kids?

	Amanda is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at OhAmanda.com. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids!

How to Make Cleaning Fun for Kids is a post from Life Your Way

DIY Pedestal Plate or Vase

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The following post is from Janel of Life with Lucie and Ella.:

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Months ago, I saw Myra’s post for DIY Hurricane Vases, and I fell in love with them. What a great way to take some simple dollar-store or thrift-store items and give them new life.

When I needed a decorative item for my mantel with a little more height, I decided to take inspiration from Myra and make my own with the flowers and vase from my Rolled Paper Flower Arrangement tutorial. I also realized that I could do the same thing to create a pedestal plate — it’s a great way to display different items at a buffet for a special occasion. Items at different heights add a little more visual interest.

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Whether you want a tall vase or pedestal plate, the process is the same. You’ll need some Gorilla Glue to glue your pieces together and some water to activate the glue. Because the glue dries a bit bubbly and has a color when it dries, I preferred not to use a clear glass plate or vase because you’d be able to see the glue in the finished product. But, of course, if you fill up your vase or pile up treats on your plate, the glued section will be covered so probably won’t see that anyway. Just use what you prefer.

How to Make a Pedestal Plate or Vase:

source: Janel of Life with L and E

Supplies:

plate, diy vase, or other decorative item to which you’d like to add some height
glass candlesticks (I got mine from the dollar store.)
Gorilla Glue
water
heavy books

Directions:

Clean the surfaces where you will be applying the glue. Place your decorative plate or vase upside down. Use water to create a damp circle where you will attach the glass candlestick. Also apply a little water to the rim of the glass candlestick where it will attach to the plate/vase. Try not to get any water inside the well of the candlestick or you will trap moisture inside.

Apply a small amount of Gorilla Glue to the rim of the glass candlestick. The glue will expand when it gets wet so don’t apply too much.

Place the candle holder on top of the plate, vase, or other item and center it. Carefully, place a heavy item such as a large book on top of the candlestick. The weight will help create a better bond between the two items. Allow the glue to cure for 1 – 2 hours.

source: Janel of Life with L and E

Fill your pedestal plate with cookies or your pedestal vase with flowers and enjoy!

Related Posts:

Step by Step Mantel Decorating
Rolled Paper Flower Arrangement and DIY Vase – This tutorial shows how I made the “vase” displayed here.
DIY Mantel Words – These make a fun addition to your mantel OR could be used as decorations for a buffet table.

Have you ever created something special for your mantel?

	Janel is a stay-at-home mom of two and law school wife. Raised in a budget-conscious and do-it-yourself minded family, she loves seeing something in a store or magazine and making her own version at home for less money. Janel blogs about motherhood, crafts and recipes at Life with Lucie and Ella.

DIY Pedestal Plate or Vase is a post from Life Your Way

Weekly Reads + Reading Out Loud to Kids {5/13/13}

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:33:48 GMT

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I still didn’t pick up my Kindle last week, but my reading list is growing at an alarming rate, so I’m looking forward to diving back in (hopefully) this week!

Head here to see Katie’s post for this week. We also want to know what you’re reading! Add your blog post to the linky below or leave a comment with your favorite reads from this week.

A Question for You

Earlier in the school year, I mentioned that I’d accepted that audiobooks were going to have to take the place of read-alouds for our family because of time constraints with school and work time; however, I’ve realized in the last few months how very much I miss reading stacks of books with and to the girls!

With that in mind, we’ve worked hard to move to more independent school work for many of our subjects, freeing up more time for me to sit and read with them rather than trying to teach a variety of subjects, and I’m really excited to start making our way through more of our collection (and rereading some of our favorites with the little ones!) as we head into summer.

All of that said, I’d love to know when you read to your kids! Do you read at meals or bedtime? At set times or randomly throughout the day? Where do you read together? How much time do you spend reading to your kids each day?

Share Your Reading List

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekly Reads + Reading Out Loud to Kids {5/13/13} is a post from Life Your Way

How to Deal with Distractions that Cost You Money

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:00:37 GMT

The following post is from Christina of Northern Cheapskate:

source: Rennett Stowe

Do you suffer from shiny object syndrome? Do you start one project only to flit to the next? Get sidetracked by some great new thing (shiny object)?

All of those little distractions can cost you money. While daydreaming, you get into a fender bender with your car. You get distracted by your kids in the store, so you aren’t able to focus on your shopping list. You get distracted at work (by co-workers, family issues at home, or the internet) and it costs you opportunities and promotions. You’re distracted by advertising and lured into buying things you may not actually need (or even really want).

There is so much competing for our attention these days – and so much information coming at us – that it is very easy to get distracted. When you’re distracted, it’s easier to make bad choices when it comes to your money. It’s easier to make impulse buys, make poor decisions, or make mistakes that cost you.

Have a plan.

Start every day with a plan. Make a list of the things you have to do and follow it. Never go to the grocery store without a shopping list. Set short-term and long-term goals and assess your progress regularly. If there’s a plan in place, it’s much harder to get sidetracked.

Take a minimalist approach.

Less is more! Do a massive purge of clutter. Unsubscribe to magazines and e-mail newsletters that you never read. Turn off the television. Unplug from all those gadgets. Eliminate all those little time wasters and things that tempt you into spending money.

Focus on a few causes or projects that are most important to you and let go of the rest. It’s easier to juggle everything when you have fewer balls in the air.

Set a timer.

Have you ever logged on to your computer to pay a bill or check your bank account and discover that you’ve lost 2 hours of your day to Pinterest and Facebook? Eliminate distractions by setting a kitchen timer or setting an alarm on your phone. When you give yourself a strict time limit to get things done, you’re less likely to get distracted. I’ve even known some women who set the parental controls on their TVs and computers to make sure they stay on task.

Keep a notebook handy.

Sometimes distractions pop up that you just can’t ignore. For those occasions, I try to keep a notebook around to jot down things I need to remember or deal with later. If I don’t have a notebook, I’ll use the notepad or memo function on my phone. This allows you to make sure you remember the things you need to remember without disrupting the project you’re currently working on.

Recognize what’s real and what’s hype.

It’s easy to get sucked into a good sales pitch or lured into the drama of a highly persuasive person. Make sure a deal is really a deal. Figure out how to tell what needs attention and what doesn’t.

Figure out what your time is worth.

When I find myself getting distracted, I stop to think about what my time is worth. For example, if you have a job that pays you $15 an hour, and you just spent the last hour playing Angry Birds, then you’ve just lost $15 in productivity. Stop to ask yourself if what you are doing is helping you reach your goals. If the answer is “No” then stop what you’re doing and go back to your plan.

It’s not easy avoiding all those shiny objects trying to get our attention. Having a few strategies can help.

How do you handle distractions?

	Christina Brown is the creator of Northern Cheapskate, a blog dedicated to frugal living through coupons, freebies, and money-saving ideas. She lives in the rural north woods of Minnesota where she clips coupons, pinches pennies, and chases her three boys (a 7-year-old and twin 5-year olds) as a stay-at-home mom.

How to Deal with Distractions that Cost You Money is a post from Life Your Way

Beauty & Fashion for Moms eBook Collection for $7.40! {BundleoftheWeek.com}

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:01:13 GMT

Beauty is more than skin deep, and this week’s bundle is designed to help you feel beautiful from the inside out! Discover the secrets to jump starting your energy, inspiration to get your weight under control, and beauty and fashion tips to help you prioritize yourself even as you juggle your busy life — all for 75% off, this week only!

With your purchase, you’ll get all five of the following ebooks:

Embracing Beauty by Trina Holden
The No Brainer Wardrobe by Hayley Morgan
Energy Explosion by Arabah Joy
Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae
100 Pound Loser by Jessica Heights

Get yours today!

Even if you’re not interested in this week’s bundle, be sure to sign up for the BundleoftheWeek.com weekly newsletter so you can be the first to know about the newest bundle:

Beauty & Fashion for Moms eBook Collection for $7.40! {BundleoftheWeek.com} is a post from Life Your Way

Weekend Reading: May 11, 2013

Mandi — Sat, 11 May 2013 12:01:15 +0000

source: mandiehman on Instagram

We’re currently at Disney World for the Disney Social Media Moms conference, and let me tell you…it truly is magical! Between the character sightings, the food, the fun giveaways and the free time to explore the parks we already know and love, our family is soaking up every moment. I’ll be sharing a little more about our trip next week, but in the meantime, you can follow me on Instagram (@mandiehman) to join us virtually!

This morning? We’re off to Merida’s Royal Coronation at the Magic Kingdom!

Our weekly newsletter is currently on hold , but be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our next issue on June 1st!

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!

Family {Raising Adults}

A Nation of Wimps | Psychology Today

Diagnosing the Wrong Deficit | NYTimes.com

How To Keep Our Babies Safe | Glennon Melton

Health {And the Role Food Plays}

174,203 Ways to Measure Health (Besides the Scale) | Whole9

Avoiding Monosodium Glutamate: One Family’s Story | Simple Bites

Homeschooling {Enjoying the Journey}

5 Ways to Manage Home and School | SimpleHomeschool.net

How to Enjoy Homeschooling {A Few Things I’ve Learned Along the Way} | SarahMae.com

Have a great weekend!

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekend Reading: May 11, 2013 is a post from Life Your Way

]]>

Comments

We really did, Joyce — thanks!! by Mandi @ Life...Your Way
Oooh, we didn't do that this time, but our youngest had her ... by Mandi @ Life...Your Way
One of the best deals @ WDW…haircuts on Main Street! Try to ... by Wendy Newsom
Looks like you all are having a great time! What a wonderful ... by Joyce (and Norm)

Confessions of a Mac Owner: Are You a Photo Hoarder?

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:30:02 GMT

The following post is from Lauren Rothlisberger of Get Me Geeky:

If you have thousands of unorganized photos in your iPhoto, if you keep every photo you snapped, even the blurry one of your kid running by, if you have tons of iPhoto Events all listed by date… repeat after me: “I am a Photo Hoarder”.

Well at least you admit it, now it is time to do something about it. I have good news and bad news, the good news is I have a program for you, and it is 4 steps, not 12! The bad news? You need to set aside a block of time, this process can take awhile.

Here are the 4 steps to get your photo hoarding under control:

Step One: Import.

You may be thinking, “This doesn’t make any sense, I thought we were trying to get rid of photos!” True we are, but lets at least get them all in one place so when we start deleting and organizing we don’t muddle it up with old pictures getting imported in.

The simplest way to import photos is through iPhoto. Plug in your camera or iPhone into your computer. If iPhoto is not open it should launch. If it doesn’t, open it up. Your plugged in device should show up in the left-hand column.

To the right you see the photos that are on the camera. You can choose import all, or select particular pictures and choose import selected. If you would like to pick out only a few pictures click on the photo, hold down the command button, then click on another photo. Or you can also drag your mouse across several photos and select them all at once. Be sure to choose “import selected” if you do not want all the photos. Before you import, take a minute to look down at the bottom. To the left, check the box to auto-split your events. This ensures that your photos are split into events by date making it much easier to organize. You also can give your event a title here, if you forget or aren’t sure what you want to call it, you can always do this later.

Most of the time you will probably import from a camera or phone, however there may come a time you need to import photos from another location on your computer or an external hard drive. This is particularly important if you purchase a new computer and want to bring in photos from an old computer. Let’s say that a friend sent her a few photos of her son playing soccer this season. She saved them to her desktop and now wants to bring them into her iPhoto. Go up to the very top of your screen to the menu bar, click on File and choose “Import to Library”. Browse to the picture location and click import. After importing, iPhoto takes us to our Events. You can always access Events in the left-hand column.

Step Two: DELETE, DELETE, DELETE!!!

You need to delete photos that are not really great. Now note I didn’t say, delete the bad photos. I said delete the photos that are not really great. Just because we can take 100 photos of our son’s third birthday doesn’t mean we really need to save all those. One day many years from now you want to be able to enjoy looking through your life’s events, you don’t want to feel like you are drowning in them.

I notice people become emotionally attached to their pictures, even the really bad ones, throwing away a photo of your child doesn’t mean you don’t love them. Become a curator for your photos; this is your personal museum.

Step Three: Create events.

While I won’t dive into a full explanation here, it is best to use Events (not Albums) to organize your photos. Event organization certainly leaves room for personal preference, but I will give you a method that will lead to successful organization. It is easiest to mentally divide your events in two categories. One category, is for a specific event, say a birthday party or vacation and the second category is for less specific pictures over a period of time. For example, you could have an event for Fall 2012 or a more specific event for Todd’s Soccer Fall 2012.

Obviously events don’t necessarily naturally import into the events you want, they import by date. So, let’s say you import 20 photos from your camera one Saturday night. Half are from your son’s soccer game in the morning, and half from a birthday party that evening. As you might guess, all these photos import into the same event because they naturally create events by date. 10 of these pictures are from soccer and ten are from the birthday party. The most important thing you learn about events is how to split and merge them.

Step Four: Split and merge.

As you can probably guess splitting them divides the events and merging them combines them. In this case, we are going to divide the photos according to soccer or party. Then, we will turn the birthday party into a separate new event and merge the soccer pictures with an already existing Fall Soccer event.

Let’s get back into iPhoto and take a look at how we do that:

To go into the event with all the photos I’ll double click the front picture, by the way this picture is referred to as the “key photo”. Once we double click into this Event we see the 20 photos. Highlight the first ten photos from the soccer game, go up to the menu bar, under Events choose Split Event. As you can see now you have split those pictures into 2 set of ten. Let’s go back out to “All Events” and take the next step. Click on the date to change the name of the event with the pictures from the birthday party. Let’s call it “Nana’s 60th Birthday”. Now, there are still the ten soccer photos in the event titled by date. Sally already created an event for Soccer this season so simply take the new photos, and drag and drop them on top of the existing event. That will combine those with the existing event.

Bonus tip: Photostream

If you have photostream linked to your iPhoto account, that gives you another set of pictures to deal with. Every month there is an Event automatically created your your photostream pictures. Just treat this Event like you would any other and split and merge with specific and general events you have already put together.

Bonus tip: Key Photo

Looking to change the cover photo of your Event? It is simple. Go into your Event, choose the picture you want to display on the cover and then control-click on that photo. Choose “Make Key Photo” and you are set!

I hope this quick step process gives you the inspiration to come clean with your digital hoarding and start a whole new life as a digital organizer!

Are you a photo hoarder? Do you need help?

	Lauren Rothlisberger blogs and consults over at Get Me Geeky. As a military wife and mom of three girls five years old and under, she loves focusing on technology and productivity and finding new ways to simplify her life. She recently started putting together MacMinis, which are easy to follow videos for Mac users, and also wrote an ebook, Evernote for Moms.

Confessions of a Mac Owner: Are You a Photo Hoarder? is a post from Life Your Way

What You Need to Know About Preserving

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:46 GMT

The following post is from Kate of Modern Alternative Mama:

source: Kate

Three years ago, I was about to preserve my own food for the first time.

It was an exciting adventure. And I was nervous. I didn’t want to get burned, or break any glass, or mess anything up and make someone sick! But, I wanted high quality food, I didn’t want to pay a lot of money, and I’ve always been a “do-it-yourself”-er. So, I jumped in.

It seemed like a lot of work that year to do just a few jars. I think we did 40 – 50 jars of a few different food items. In our third year canning, we did about 300 jars, and it didn’t seem so hard!

I’ve learned a lot about canning since then (and freezing — I freeze a fair amount too, and dehydrate some). I want to share a bit of that with you!

Here’s a guide if you are a total beginner.

Make a plan now.

My first year, I kind of jumped in without a plan. I somehow thought that I would save so much money (I do) that I would be able to get all the food I would need for $50 or so (I can’t). Take a realistic look at what you really want to put up and what the prices are on the fresh food items. I can get tomatoes and apples for $0.50/lb. or less. Other things, like blueberries, simply cost $2.50/lb. even you-pick, in season (it costs twice that at a store though). Look around your area and find your best prices and do some math. Set aside money. Do it now, before you jump into preserving.

Grow your own…if you can.

My yard is too shaded to grow much besides a few pot of herbs, although we hope to move and change that soon. If you can grow a garden, do it. If you don’t have space, do a few pots of herbs or a basket of strawberries. It’s something, even if you never really get enough to put away. It’s significantly cheaper to spend $50 up front to buy some plants than to buy all the food. I’ve done the math, and I was amazed!

Get the equipment.

You don’t need to buy a fancy pot and canning kit. Often times, what you have around the kitchen will work. I use a big stock pot and a quilted pot holder instead of a canning pot and jar rack. You will need jars, lids and rings for canning and that will be your biggest initial expense, but you can reuse the jars and rings year after year. Try to get them used if you can, but check prices; I found some at Good Will that weren’t cheaper than buying new! You can read more about the equipment here.

As for dehydrating, you can do that in an oven on low, by hanging herbs upside down (wouldn’t work so great for meat, though!), or laying outside in the sun on trays. Or you can use a “real” dehydrator. I do love mine. For freezing, you only need large cookie sheets and bags.

Start with just a little.

Don’t try to preserve everything your family will eat in the first year. And don’t get caught up in delicious and beautiful foods that your family won’t eat. I love the idea of strawberry jam, but it’s not something my family eats. Choose two or three things your family eats a lot of and can that first. It’s tomato and applesauce for us. It will seem like a lot of work as you are learning, but will eventually become easy.

Don’t be afraid.

A lot of people are worried about making people sick if they can improperly, or getting burned during the process, or making the canner explode. I have used both water bath and pressure canners and as long as you follow the directions, you will not do this. In three years and hundreds of jars, I have never made anyone sick, and I have never had a jar break.

I did get burned once when I did something stupid. (I tried to force an empty jar down into a pot of still-very-hot water, figuring when it got low enough, it would fill with water…it did…but the hot water sort of “exploded” and splashed all over my hand. Don’t do that.)

Have common sense, follow directions carefully until you feel confident, but really — it’s not that hard!

Do you preserve food for your family?

	Kate is a wife and mommy to 4 and is passionate about God, health and food. She has written 7 cookbooks and is planning to release more in 2013. When she’s not blogging, she’s in the kitchen, sewing, or home schooling her children. You can find her at Modern Alternative Mama or contributing to Keeper of the Home.

What You Need to Know About Preserving is a post from Life Your Way

10 Simple Ways Using the Library Can Save You Money

Thu, 09 May 2013 21:30:58 GMT

The following post is from Tiffany of Mommy Goes Green:

source: University of California Berkeley

I adore the library and think it’s one of the most underutilized public programs we have available to us! Our local libraries offer so much more than just books, they have a wealth of material, programs and online resource available to save you money:

Internet Access

Using the Internet at the library can be a great way to chop $50 or more from your monthly budget.

If you don’t have a computer, they have one for you to use or you can bring your own and use their free Wi-fi.

Movies

We recently cancelled the DVD portion of our Netflix account because we can score both DVD and Blu-ray movies from the library for free. We also really like that most are available for check out for as long as one or two weeks. We reserve movies we want online, and I am notified by email when they are available.

Magazines

I am a magazine junkie, but I only subscribe to a few favorites. I’ve been known to climb in a comfy chair with a cup of coffee and a magazine at the library. I also like that the magazines there have a longer life because they are used by many readers.

eBooks

Here’s the thing about eBooks – you don’t even need to own an e-reader! Most of them are available for download to your computer or mobile device so take advantage of all the free eBooks your library has to offer.

Music

Sometimes I just need to listen to a CD a few times before to decide that I don’t need to buy it. I check them out from the library, blast them in my car for a week or two and then return them. I also take advantage of the library’s Freegal system, it allows me to download up to three MP3′s at a time and keep them as long as I’d like. I’ve saved myself a lot of impulse iTunes purchases this way.

Programming

The children’s programs have been particularly good for us during the winter when outside play is not always a good idea. Instead of paying for a pricey indoor play area, we can head over to the library for their weekly free programs. Our library offers crafts, movies, sing-a-longs and I’ve also seen teen classes for SAT prep and free tutoring.

Free Tickets and Passes

Our local library offers a family pass to the local museum, and the one I belonged to previously had tickets for every major museum, garden and historical venue in the area. It was a great benefit allowing us to try out many cultural events in our city for free. We ended up liking one of them so much that we paid for an annual membership.

Summer Reading Program

The reading programs offered by most libraries not only encourages kids to read throughout the summer, but you can often score several freebies for participating. We have gotten many free books, pizzas, ice cream cones and sporting event tickets when we completed the program.

Language Lessons

I’ve had my eye on some online language lessons, but then I discovered our library gives all members access to Mango Languages where we can study 11 different languages. They also offer an ESL course. This might be particularly helpful to homeschooling families.

Book Sales

I have stocked at least half our home library collection from the wonderful sales at local libraries. I try to attend several per year and have scored so many great books for $1 or less. Not only have I purchased many books in great condition, I’ve also purchased DVD’s, CD’s and puzzles. My advice: go early and go often, you will not regret it.

What special perks or programs does your library offer?

	Tiffany is a wife and mom of two, living simply to indulge her family’s love of outdoor recreation and travel. You can find her contributing at Simple Homemade, The Creative Mama and her personal home on the web, Mommy Goes Green.

10 Simple Ways Using the Library Can Save You Money is a post from Life Your Way

The Importance of Playtime for a Mom’s Soul

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:07 GMT

The following is a guest post from Elizabeth of Seasons with Soul:

source: Seasons with Soul

Sparkly Sparkly Crazy Hair is famous in our family. A My Little Pony who sells ice cream sundaes for $50 a pop, she also has a perennial bad attitude. And, if you argue with her, the price just skyrockets. We’re not sure how she stays in business, but she does.

Though my daughters are 10 and 8 now, and they haven’t really played ponies in years, they still remember Sparkly Sparkly Crazy Hair — the fun, goofy, off-the-cuff invention of my husband — and they’ve kept her. {Pretty amazing considering how many preschool toys have been donated and/or sent the way of a garage sale.}

Maybe you’re like me — the mom who all too often takes the weight of the world onto her shoulders and feels she doesn’t have time to play. Have you ever looked on wonderingly as your husband {or babysitter, or parent} gets down on the floor and just plays?

Have you ever wondered what would it be like to just let the laundry pile, and the dishes sag sideways in the sink, and the emails and notifications stack up unread?

Have you ever had the crazy urge to throw an old afghan on the grass and simply cloud watch with your elementary school kid just home from school, instead of diving right into homework, or rushing off to an activity, or starting dinner?

Have you ever imagined how amazing it would be to take the entire two-and-a-half hours of preschool to go to the local park by yourself {without your friend or your baby or your pulling dog} and just walk in sun and silence?

I have, and I’ve learned how freeing it can be to start saying “yes” to play. <- Tweet This!

Creativity for the Soul

I used to consider myself creative. I’d indulge in reading novels and creative writing and long walks — and all manner of things that fed my soul — both spiritually and creatively.

That was before marriage and housekeeping, jobs and kids.

Permitting myself the time and space to play, to intentionally pursue and nurture my creativity — well, that just didn’t fit into the schedule anymore.

Sound familiar?

We say to ourselves: If I don’t have time to take a shower, then on earth can I {fill in the blank … paint, design, compose}?

It’s a valid question, but if we insist on doing the math, we often end up frustrated. Many times, there aren’t enough hours in the day for the “must-dos,” let alone the “like-to-dos.”

That’s where play comes in.

As moms, we’re not going to have huge blocks of time to create {well, at least most of us won’t}. We are going to be tired some days and will fail to meet our expectations for pursuing creativity. There will be days where our best-laid plans to create are interrupted by a kid home sick from school.

So, we moms have to be creative about our time to create.

I do this in two ways:

1. I strive to find inspiration in the everyday by being fully present in the moment — in essence, turning work into play.

2. And, I block off time for a one- to two-hour grown-up “play date” by myself each week.

They’re both forms of play, and they’re both actually accomplishing important “work” for us creatives. These forms of play refresh, revitalize, and restock our creative reserves. For a type-A, can’t-sit-still, get-er-done mom like me, there’s something incredibly liberating about considering play work, that allows me to indulge in it more often.

When I can find inspiration in my daily duties as mom, well, that’s just the best. I’m accomplishing what I need to {washing dishes, pulling weeds, folding laundry}, but I’m also fully present and engaging. And, I often find God meets me there, and rewards my focus with inspiration, with ideas, and a feeling of refreshment.

The secret: Leave your smart phone, computer, book, magazine, agenda, behind. Choose to just be there. All there. Talk to yourself, if you have to. Calm that mind clutter with the present moment. Narrate details of what’s happening. Notice colors, smells, sensations. Get down on the floor and play My Little Pony beauty salon like you mean it. Make a light brite masterpiece with your son. Weed your garden. Chop vegetables. When you engage wholeheartedly, these mundane activities can be transformed into the divine.

The second form of play, the grown-up play date, has only two guidelines: It has to be you and you only {the cultivation of solitude being essential to your creativity}, and it has to be fun. You get extra points if it’s frivolous.

I’ve adapted the idea from The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron, a wonderful resource that’s essentially a three-month creativity workshop in a book. It revolves around the concept that your inner artist is a child that needs to play. Creativity, at its heart, flows from a sense of playfulness. And, creativity without playfulness will drain you and your reserves. You are, in essence, restocking your creative stores. You can’t keep drawing and drawing from them, without ending up with bare shelves.

It’s a beautiful irony: By actively engaging in play, you’ll be doing more work than you knew possible. <—Tweet This!

Join me at Seasons with Soul as I explore the intersection of creativity, spirituality, and motherhood with a new series, Spark Moms: Igniting Your Creative Passions for His Glory.

How do you embrace play? Do you wish you were more playful?

	Elizabeth grew up on a small, 220-acre farm in the Midwest and lives today in the suburbs with her three littles (10,8, and 3), her husband, and their ditsy but lovable English Springer Spaniel. She’s a food freak, lover of all things DIY, and a reformed perfectionist. You can find her writing about faith, family, and nature at Seasons with Soul or follow her on Twitter @seasonswithsoul.

The Importance of Playtime for a Mom’s Soul is a post from Life Your Way

10 Knobs You Can Make Yourself

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:30:30 GMT

The following post is from Lisa of The Pennington Point:

source: The Pennington Point

Knobs. Something so small but they can make a big impact on a room. A knob or drawer pull can determine if the room is contemporary, traditional, or in my case, wacky!

I love to use odd things as knobs. Why not? Life is an adventure!

Anything that is reasonable sturdy and can be drilled through can serve as a knob. Baby blocks, dominoes, sticks, buttons, rubber bands, curtain finials, jewelry and wire can all be made into knobs or pulls.

Some of my favorite knobs in my home are some that I made with what I had lying around. I painted a hallway cabinet and the old knobs were awful. So I found some cheap wooden ones in a drawer and covered them in twine. Now I love them!

Here’s another idea for those little wooden knobs. Stain them and decoupage something on them….LOVE it!

source: icraftwithlove

Another favorite is my garden gate. Why use a plain old handle when you can use something with real personality?!

source: The Pennington Point

When I saw this next idea I knew I would have to find a place to do this. So easy with a vintage lock and eye hook!

source: BH&G

What about a simple cork knob? Super cute!

source: Mrs. Greene

These clothespin pulls make me want to add a cabinet to my laundry room!

source: BH&G

And do not get me started on how much I love these ruler drawer pulls. They make my heart melt.

source: BH&G

These stamped spoon handles are another swoon worthy idea!

source: Thistlewood Farms

If you can’t find something to drill through, you can always use rope!

source: Design Squish

I love these knobs made with faucet handles. I’m going to make some of these for the backyard! I don’t know where I’ll put them, but I will figure it out because I have to try this!

source: Wit & Whistle

I’ll bet you’ve got a cabinet or drawer you could wake up with some DIY knobs!

Do your drawers need a pick me up?

	Lisa winds through her little Texas farm house every night, tucking in her nine homeschooled children and turning off lights. Then she scans the rooms & makes a mental list of what she wants to rearrange, restore or paint. Her husband of 26 years hangs on for the ride while she blogs about it over at The Pennington Point.

10 Knobs You Can Make Yourself is a post from Life Your Way

Mobile Apps for Lupus

Wed, 08 May 2013 16:30:06 GMT

The following post is from Michelle of Mommy Misadventures:

Lupus is a chronic disease where the body’s immune system attacks one or more of the body’s organ systems, cause pain, inflammation and organ damage. Lupus can affect either gender and any ethnicity, however it is most common in women of color between the ages of 15 and 44. It affects 1.5 million Americans and 5 million people world wide. Lupus has no known cause and there is currently no cure.

May is Lupus Awareness Month and May 10th is World Lupus Day. I am one of the 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with lupus. As part of my contribution to lupus awareness, I’ve compiled a list of apps that I use to help me manage the daily challenge that come with lupus.

Pain/Symptom Management

Lupus is a disease that presents differently in each patient. It is also characterized by a flares, when disease activity increases and remission periods, when the disease takes a rest. Flares can sometimes be triggered by different things, such as stress or weather changes. Keeping a detailed diary of her symptoms is important to helping a patient learn more about her disease’s patterns.

Chronic Pain Tracker (iOS) – Lite, Premium $9.99
There’s a lot of pain trackers on the market but Chronic Pain Tracker for iOS is my hands down favorite. It allows you to create separate, custom profiles to track particular symptoms, especially helpful if you have multiple chronic diagnoses to keep track of. What I like best about Chronic Pain Tracker is that it has various pain tracking variables including type, intensity and location, as well as an analysis tool that allows you to compare data over time. Over time, the data collected by Chronic Pain Tracker can help a patient identify patterns or changes, as well as make it easy to share with doctors.

Productivity

Many patients with lupus experience what’s known as “lupus fog” which can affect everything from thought processes and memory. For some, the fog is just a mild annoyance but for others, it can be debilitating.

I often deal with mild memory loss which can sometimes make it difficult to recall everyday information or what I’m supposed to be doing. To help me cope, I rely on productivity apps to help capture and access the information that I can’t always remember.

Evernote (web/Android/iOS)
From personal notes to client research, my Evernote account acts like my second brain. I have gotten into the habit of entering just about everything into my Evernote account and it has been well worth the time. I love that I can capture information from just about anywhere — manual notes, clipping web pages, photos, voice notes — and then access them whenever I need via Evernote’s search function. While I still prefer Chronic Pain Tracker for symptom tracking, Evernote is great for capturing questions or specific events that I want to talk to my doctor about.

Astrid (web/Android/iOS)
While Evernote allows you to create checklists within notes, the inability to sync with calendaring applications was always a deal breaker for me. Luckily, there’s a bunch of task management applications available that do just that. My personal favorite is Astrid because it has a robust notes and commenting feature, allowing me to keep track of the progress of a task. Plus, it syncs with Google, allowing me to see my tasks (and set reminders!) at a glance.

Dragon (Windows/Mac/iOS/Android)
My identity as a writer is second only to my identity as a wife and mother. Nothing can send me into a depression faster than being unable to write. More and more, I have found my hands being affected by lupus and some days they are so painful that typing is an impossibility.

Going a day without writing in some fashion just isn’t possible for me, I use Dragon’s speech recognition software to dictate. To be honest, it took awhile to get used to dictating vs. typing but the more I use it, the more comfortable I’ve become. Dragon is an expensive application but well worth it for the paint it saves me when I’m unable to use my hands.

Do you have a chronic illness like lupus? What do you use to help you manage your illness?

	Michelle Mista is an IT professional, writer and blogger with a love for all kinds of technology. She writes about tech tips and trends for work at home professionals on her portfolio blog and muses about motherhood at Mommy Misadventures. She is on the constant quest to balance life, work and geekery.

Mobile Apps for Lupus is a post from Life Your Way

DIY for Kids: Make a Pillowcase Laundry Sack

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:17 GMT

The following post is from Kristina of Toddler Approved:

source: Kristina Buskirk

We’re going through a big remodel and pretty much every part of our house is a big mess. Add that to the fact that we are never home, and we are still adjusting to having three kids, and you can understand why life is a bit of a disaster. The thing that has suffered the most has been the laundry. There are laundry piles in the kid’s bedrooms and piles of clean laundry in the laundry room. It has been hard to keep up with everything.

To try and keep dirty clothes off the floor in the kid’s rooms we decided to have them help create some kid made DIY pillowcase laundry sacks inspired by this Ever-Open Laundry Bag idea from Martha Stewart.

Last year we shared how we did glue batik tie dying. Since it was such a fun technique to use, we decided to use it again to help us personalize our laundry sacks.

Supplies:

Elmers glue
plain white t-shirts
different colored dye bottles (I bought ours at JoAnns in a tie dye kit.)
rubber bands
plastic bags
white pillowcase
embroidery hoop (12-14 inches)
grommets/grommet tool
hook & screws
paint (We are using extra wall color paint from each child’s room.)

Directions:

source: Kristina Buskirk

Cover your pillowcase surface with glue designs and then let the glue mostly dry.

Next you’ll want to dye your pillowcase. We used the simple instructions shared in our previous tie dye post, but you could also just dye it one color.

After we let the dye set for several hours, we washed and dried the pillowcases and then got them ready to hang up in the kid’s rooms. We loved how the glue designs turned out!

We used a grommet and grommet tool to secure the grommet, and then we wrapped the mouth of the pillowcase around the interior of the embroidery hoop. We secured the pillowcase in place using the outside piece of the hoop (and screw). We hung the bags on the bedroom door hooks so they could start collecting laundry.

source: Kristina Buskirk

I am so excited to have laundry off the floor and have such cute kid made hampers in each bedroom!

How do you keep laundry organized at your house?

	Kristina is a mom of 3 and a former Special Ed teacher for children with communication disabilities. She blogs at Toddler Approved as she looks for ways to make life a little more fun and creative with her kids while embedding learning into everything that she does. Kristina tweets as @ToddlerApproved and can be found on FB and Pinterest.

DIY for Kids: Make a Pillowcase Laundry Sack is a post from Life Your Way

Giveaway: New Mom Gift Basket from The Baby Companion

Tue, 07 May 2013 23:38:55 GMT

A couple of weeks ago I told you about The Baby Companion, a first-year baby guide for women of faith who want to treasure those first months and experience God’s presence in the midst of the journey; this week we’ve got a fun giveaway for you!

From Amazon:

The Baby Companion offers every new mom a guide that includes both information and encouragement for her journey through baby’s first year. Equipping women with practical advice and resources including scheduling, child development, budgeting, and practical parenting, this book guides the reader on a faith-filled journey paved with truth, reflection, and Scripture.

Some of the elements include baby stats, development checker, baby care, common questions, mommy care, truth for the journey, and more. Organized into chapters that follow baby’s monthly progress, the reader will have everything she needs to be informed and peaceful during her baby’s first year.

The Baby Companion is a perfect gift for a new mom…or for yourself!

Enter to Win

This week, the authors of The Baby Companion are giving one lucky Life Your Way reader a new mom gift basket, including both The Baby Companion and The Pregnancy Companion, plus a Noodle and Boo Love Light Candle, 3 CDs and a $25 Target gift card!

To enter, fill out the form below:

Loading…

This giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, 5/16. The winner will be selected randomly and notified by email, and this post will be updated with their name as well. Open to U.S. residents 18 years old and above.

Giveaway: New Mom Gift Basket from The Baby Companion is a post from Life Your Way

6 Ways to Arrive Home More Relaxed

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:30:29 GMT

The following post is from Jennifer, a lifelong educator:

source: Stephen Cummings

When you haven’t seen your kids all day, it’s important to arrive home in a good mood so you can more easily reconnect with your family. The way you feel when you walk in the door can help you set a positive tone that carries into the evening, thus making your time together more peaceful and productive.

Try these ideas on your car ride home:

1. Eat a healthy snack. Before you leave each morning, put a piece of fruit or a few cut-up veggies in a cooler that stays in the car. It will raise your energy level and stave off any hunger pangs (thus avoiding the temptation to load up on empty calories that you’ll later regret).

2. Turn on your favorite music or audio book that will help you unwind and let go of the tension that naturally builds up during the day.

3. Plan ahead. Think of at least one affirming, encouraging comment you can make to each member of your family. When you’re stressed and tired, it’s easy to walk in the door and start issuing commands. “Joe, it’s your job to empty the dishwasher. Tracy, get those papers off the table!” Your attitude impacts everyone else. You’ll probably get better results with “Joe, I really appreciate how you helped me with the dishwasher yesterday. Can we talk about your day while we do that together, honey?”

4. Make the decision to turn off the work switch and turn on the home switch. Whether you’re in a high-pressure job or not, it’s easy to bring work and its problems home with you. While you want your family to know what’s happening in your life during the day, little ones need to have some time that’s focused on them. Try to compartmentalize the major issues until later. Hopefully you’ll have a chance to talk to your husband or a friend after the kids’ bedtime. By then, you may even have a different perspective about the day’s events.

5. Make a mental list of two or three priorities for the evening. Don’t attempt to get a full day’s work done at home each night. If you get more done that your primary two or three, that’s great. But don’t set yourself up for failure by making a list that’s impossible to complete.

6. Slow the car down. Reducing your speed by 10 miles per hour will not only decrease the chances of a speeding ticket, it will reduce the stress of driving. Yes, it may “cost” you an extra five minutes, but you’ll arrive home more relaxed and ready to tackle the evening.

How do you unwind after a stressful day?

	Jennifer is passionate about children and education. She homeschooled her two sons for five years, established and directed a Christian school in Maryland for 20 years, and currently teaches in a public school in a Chicago suburb. She loves investing in relationships and delights in every moment that she spends with her family.

6 Ways to Arrive Home More Relaxed is a post from Life Your Way

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Favorite Desserts Healthier

Tue, 07 May 2013 12:03:03 GMT

The following post is from Amy of Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free:

source: Amy Green

Summer is right around the corner, which means summer clothing and yes, bathing suits. I don’t know about you, but looking fabulous in a bathing suit has never been able to motivate to me to give up dessert entirely. There’s just too much really good summer food I’m not willing to miss out on.

But, it does motive me to eat healthier. I don’t mind indulging in dessert when I know that it won’t end up around my waist.

Here are five simple ways I make my favorite desserts healthier.

1. Reduce the fat content with fruit purees or low-fat yogurt.

If your favorite cake recipe calls for a cup of butter, replace 25 – 50% of it with your favorite fruit puree or yogurt. Baby food works great, too. Just remember that the flavor of the fruit will likely impact the flavor of your dessert. Unsweetened applesauce has a neutral flavor and always works well. Other options include prune, pumpkin, and winter squash purees.

My apple & carrot breakfast cake is always a hit, as is this blueberry crumble cake.

2. Make dessert with beans.

Beans are high in fiber, contain protein and are digested slower which helps support overall digestive health. Instead of traditional brownies, why not give these flourless black bean brownies a whirl? Or, maybe these chocolate truffles? You’ll find they are moist, smooth, and decadent.

3. Combine full-fat and low-fat ingredients.

I have never been a fan of very low-fat desserts. I find the texture to be unappealing and often, they require much more sugar to make up for the lack of fat. Instead of using all low-fat ingredients, try using part full-fat and part low-fat ingredients. This is my trick to super-smooth, healthy homemade ice cream. It also works when baking cakes, cupcakes, and muffins.

4. Add flavor and texture instead of more calories.

When a recipe calls for a cup or two of raw nuts, try using 25% less and roasting the nuts before adding them to the other ingredients. Roasted nuts have more flavor. Another trick is to throw in some juice-sweetened dried cranberries or blueberries, or even unsweetened coconut for part of the chocolate chips.

These honey sweetened macaroons are a fun dessert with a lot of texture.

5. Use nutrient dense, whole foods.

I often think about how to get more moisture and sweetness into my desserts without using more sugar. Again, this is a great place to add juice-sweetened dried fruit. Pureed bananas,avocados, zucchini, and even spinach are great additions to chocolate desserts. And, never underestimate the impact fresh-squeezed lemon, lime, or orange juice can have on a dessert. The corresponding citrus zest is a great addition, too.

Try double chocolate zucchini bread, avocado-banana smoothie, no-bake chocolate coconut cookies, or 3-ingredient peanut butter banana ice cream .

What are your favorite, healthy summertime treats?

A stay-at-home mom, wife, and passionate cook, Amy strives to make each meal healthy and delicious. When she’s not doing laundry, dishes, or caring for her son, she plays around with food in the kitchen developing new recipes, which she shares at Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free. Amy also publishes The Balanced Platter and authored the book Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free: 180 Easy & Delicious Recipes You Can Make in 20 Minutes or Less.

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Favorite Desserts Healthier is a post from Life Your Way

5 Things You Need to Put in Your Cleaning Bucket

Mon, 06 May 2013 21:30:00 GMT

The following post is from Becky of Clean Mama:

source: clean mama

Regardless of if you keep cleaning supplies in a tote-able bucket or under every each and every sink, there are few supplies that every cleaning bucket needs. These are simple, easy to find supplies that will help you clean every corner of your home. I keep more than just this in my cleaning bucket.

These are the 5 things that I absolutely must have in my cleaning bucket to effectively move through my cleaning routine.

Microfiber Cloths

If you haven’t jumped on the microfiber bandwagon, you are missing out. They’re reusable and washable (hundreds and hundreds of times), they can be used dry as a dusting cloth and with your favorite cleaner for bathrooms, stainless steel, kitchen cleaning, and washing floors. Hands down, microfiber cloths are my favorite cleaning tool. I love that they don’t leave lint and last forever. I did a post on the many types of microfiber cloths, go here if you’d like to see more on what the big deal is all about.

Magic Eraser

Have a hard to clean spot? Grab your magic eraser first. A couple of my favorite areas to clean with a magic eraser? Fiberglass bathtub scum, glass shower doors, white (painted) baseboards and doors, window tracks, fireplace (soot), siding, stove top…. I can get just about anything out with a magic eraser and a little water. Test the surface first and do not use on skin.

All-Purpose Cleaner

Find your favorite all-purpose cleaner and stash it in your cleaning bucket. All-purpose is just that – it works on just about everything. You can make your own or use a concentrate that can be mixed up with water. Make sure your all-purpose cleaner is non-toxic and you can use it on just about anything from your refrigerator and freezer, countertops, bathrooms, toys, and floors.

Scrub Brush

This is great for grout, faucets and other hard to reach spaces. Don’t want to spend the money on a scrub brush? Use an old toothbrush. Run it through the dishwasher or pour a little hydrogen peroxide on it to clean it.

Duster

A good duster is a must in my cleaning bucket. My favorite type of duster is one with a removable and extendable handle. I can reach all the hard to reach areas and remove the extendable handle to dust bookcases and easy to reach areas.

What would you add? What’s a must in your cleaning bucket?

	Becky is a self-proclaimed clean freak and list maker. She is a work-at-home mom to three little ones, and in her spare time she enjoys sharing her cleaning and organizing tricks and tips on her blog, Clean Mama and through her Etsy Shop, Clean Mama Printables.

5 Things You Need to Put in Your Cleaning Bucket is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Home Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Weekly Reads + Audiobooks for Kids & Adults {5/6/13}

Mon, 06 May 2013 16:05:42 GMT

We’ve been blessed to be surrounded by family and friends on this vacation, so I just haven’t read much of anything since we’ve been down here — a little more of The Screwtape Letters and a bit from Raising Digital Families for Dummies, but that’s about it. I’m afraid my goal of 100 books for 2013 may not be so realistic anymore, but hopefully I’ll get back into the swing of things again soon!

Head here to see Katie’s post for this week. We also want to know what you’re reading! Add your blog post to the linky below or leave a comment with your favorite reads from this week.

Audiobooks

The girls were excited that I finally got them new audiobooks for our road trip after hoarding our Audible credits from last month to be sure everybody would have something new to listen to. They each got one new story to listen to on the drive down, and they’ve been listening to Alvin Ho together at bedtime since we got here.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey

The second book in The Mysterious Benedict Society series, this book is a little scarier than the first, and I wasn’t sure if it would be too much for our oldest, but she loved every moment of it. In fact, we didn’t really hear from her at all during our road trip because she was so enthralled with the story. These stories are fun because the core group of four children are the real heroes, using their various skills to solve mysteries and rescue their friends from danger.

The Alvin Ho Super Collection

Alvin Ho us a funny and neurotic second grader, and while these books are really applauded for their “boy appeal”, our girls love them as well.

Magic Tree House Collection (Books 17-24)

I have a love/hate relationship with the Magic Tree House books. I absolutely love the history and learning that’s packed into each book, but I’m not a fan of the stories that focus on ghosts and haunted houses, which makes it hard to buy the audio collections (since they include multiple books). This one, however, is our favorite collection so far, exploring everything from the Titanic and a forest in India to Colonial America.

A Question for You

Do your kids listen to audiobooks? Do you? What are your favorites? When do you listen?

Although our kids listen to stories nonstop, I find that my mind wanders too much and I end up missing parts of the book because I’m thinking about something else instead. I’m not sure if it’s worth training myself to do better at focusing or if I should just accept that audiobooks aren’t for me!

Share Your Reading List

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekly Reads + Audiobooks for Kids & Adults {5/6/13} is a post from Life Your Way

Laundry Science 101: How to Wash Cloth Diapers {And How Not To}

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:00:11 GMT

The following post is from Katie of Kitchen Stewardship:

source: SimplyLA

I totally wrecked a half dozen of my cloth diapers, just by washing them.

Mostly the more expensive, nicer ones of the 25 cloth diapers I reviewed.

It was tragic.

The silver lining, as with all stupid mistakes I make, is that I get to share it with the world so you don’t experience the same leaky drama as our household has been through.

It all started when I got a sample from a small Etsy seller of a laundry detergent that was sort of similar to the basic homemade laundry soap: homemade soap, baking soda, borax, washing soda, and lavender essential oil.

I try to be a faithful reviewer and give every product its fair shake so I can fully explain pros and cons, so I used it exclusively to wash my cloth diapers for at least a few weeks last September.

Near the end of the month, my blood pressure started being eternally high because it seemed like a number of diapers were suddenly causing wet-pants-syndrome (and the related “wet-side-of-Mommy’s-shirt” syndrome) even before two hours! It took me a while to piece it all together:

1. That it wasn’t all the diapers, but only certain covers. Remember, I had 25 covers and even more inserts to juggle.

2. That the urine was clearly going directly through the front of the cover. I finally confirmed this by putting water on a clean, dry cover and watching it soak right through. Frustration level = high!

3. That it was odd so many had died at the same time…

5. …and also that the diapers that I was losing weren’t all the same age. Some had been in use about 8-9 months, others only 3-4 months. The older ones would have been through the dryer near the beginning of our cloth journey, but I had been exclusively air drying for 5 months or so.

What gives?

I finally realized that the only change that all the diapers would have experienced in common was that detergent I used to wash them.

Is this a common problem?

source: Kitchen Stewardship

I started sending questioning emails to some of the companies that had sent me the diapers that were affected, asking if they had ever heard of this problem with homemade detergent before.

Catherine at the Willow Store offered her knowledge. She is well versed in “laundry science” – which is a real thing, although it’s almost more of an art form!

She explained that to get any laundry clean, you have to hit the nail on the head with:

water temperature
which cycle to use
how big the load should be
how many times to rinse
and most importantly, finding the right detergent for your water

I can’t even begin to touch Catherine’s knowledge, so just check out her “how to do laundry” page. If you’re wondering, I personally do both a pre-rinse and a second rinse.

Water in particular is different in each community, really, so when cloth diaper enthusiasts say, “This works perfectly for me!” it rarely extrapolates to other communities.

For example, getting all the soap out is a big deal with washing cloth diapers. If you don’t, you have “build-up” and that causes stink and leaks, two things most parents have plenty of already. If you wonder whether you have soapy buildup, swish the insert or cover in warm water. If you see no suds, you’re good. If suds come off into the water, it needs another rinse.

Catherine was surprised I was losing the waterproof barrier on my covers, because most covers should last at least 2-3 years, and the Velcro usually goes first, within the first year. Using a hot dryer decreases the life of the elastic, so if you dry the covers, you can expect to lose the legs before other parts go kaput.

She talked through some potential issues with homemade detergent:

large particles “scratch” and rip PUL
creating buildup on the inserts
simply not being right for your water (and the seller can’t even guess as to why, whereas a bigger company like Rockin’ Green has done so much testing and really understands water differences)

She said for me to pull the PUL sort of inside out, and get a visual as much as possible to see if there were visible imperfections, like tiny holes, or if the waterproof part was fully separated from the PUL in two distinct layers.

Neither seemed to be the case for me, so while I gained a lot of information, I still didn’t have covers that held in anything worth a darn.

Stripping Cloth Diapers

source: Kitchen Stewardship

I also talked to Sarah at Softbums, who coached me in the process of how to strip my cloth diapers.

She warned me first of all not to ever use actual “soap” - for example, Fels Naptha is no good, especially with synthetics. It creates too much buildup and kills the absorbency (of the inserts).

Whether the actual “soap” in the ingredients list of this product had an impact on my covers, we’ll never know.

In case there was a build-up issue, and because the diaper inserts really were starting to get a deep, heavy stench as soon as they were wet (a sure sign it’s time to strip!), Sarah instructed me to strip my cloth diapers using these steps:

Turn water heater up to 140F or higher.
Wash everything 3 times on HOT, using 1 Tbs. Dawn blue dish detergent OR Purex free and clear (Purex as a company, according to Sarah, has good intentions and is fairly eco-friendly. It was weird for me to buy regular commercially branded detergent to wash my cloth diapers, after so many years of trying to save the earth by avoiding them.).
Then run the wash cycle 2 more times with no detergent in there.
Pull the covers out and dry them on high for 10 minutes, then pull to hang dry. (The idea behind drying the covers on hot, which Catherine also recommended, is to potentially “re-seal” the PUL in case there were little pinprick holes in the covers.)
Wash the inserts two more times, once with detergent, and once without.

A “full load” for this process is no more than 24 diapers.

I told Sarah I had tried boiling the diapers in my big canning pot to get the stench out, and she explained that boiling them to strip doesn’t work for buildup or smell…that’s only when they’re new to prep them for absorbency.

I try the stripping process.

source: Kitchen Stewardship

It took me a long time to get around to stripping the diapers, knowing that I’d need a whole weekend to get through the process. I had to make sure all the diapers were available, so we put John in disposables for a number of days.

Turning up the water heater is a big deal – expect to burn your hands a few times before you remember you just can’t use all the way to hot.

Ultimately, the diaper stripping process did wondrous things for the stinky insert syndrome.

It did not, unfortunately, cure the leaky cover syndrome.

I do think it helped somehow, because I didn’t totally throw in the towel.

But this issue really threw me. If I have to pitch 6-8 of my favorite diapers, including one of my overnights, do I bother investing more money in cloth, when John is now 20 months and potentially near the end of his time in diapers?

I give myself (and my husband) a grace of taking a Sabbath from cloth on Sundays, which is really quite nice. Lately, thinking about the potential for leaks and not being able to decide what to do about it really makes it harder and harder to go back to cloth diapers on Monday.

Please, learn from my mistakes! Never use real soap on your cloth diapers, be wary of homemade detergents, and strip those stinky things before your husband threatens to toss you and the diaper pail out on the street!

More information on how to strip cloth diapers & laundry science:

helpful video on when to strip your diapers
video from the same folks on how to strip cloth diapers (they use bleach and Dawn and explain why it’s eco-friendly enough for them)
my own cloth diaper laundry routine for the normal, non-stripping days
my final cloth diaper recommendations, newly updated. I also updated my cloth diaper review to share which ones have played out (under normal circumstances, not this soap fiasco. For example, two elastics have died before a year of use.)

Have you ever had a near-death experience for your cloth diapering days?

	Katie Kimball is a mom of three who spends a ton of time in the kitchen making real food with whole ingredients and then blogs about her successes and failures at Kitchen Stewardship. She believes everything in life is a gift from God and should be taken care of wisely.

Laundry Science 101: How to Wash Cloth Diapers {And How Not To} is a post from Life Your Way

© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Green Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Get a Bundle of 5 Blogging eBooks for $7.40! {BundleoftheWeek.com}

Mon, 06 May 2013 12:01:05 GMT

Learn the secrets of successful bloggers and take your blog to the next level with this week’s ebook collection. From balancing your blog and family and setting boundaries for your online presence to monetizing your blog, writing an ebook of your own and using Pinterest to grow your brand, this bundle is packed full of resources for bloggers. And it’s available for 70% off this week only!

With your purchase, you’ll get all five of the following ebooks:

Blogger Behave by Laura Booz
Pinteresting by Tabitha Philen
Blog at Home Mom by Christin Slade
25 Simple Steps to Make Money Blogging by Tara Ziegmont
30 Days to Make and Sell a Fabulous Ebook by Angela England

Get yours today!

Even if you’re not interested in this week’s bundle, be sure to sign up for the BundleoftheWeek.com weekly newsletter so you can be the first to know about the latest bundle:

Get a Bundle of 5 Blogging eBooks for $7.40! {BundleoftheWeek.com} is a post from Life Your Way

Weekend Reading: May 4, 2013

Mandi — Sat, 04 May 2013 12:03:07 +0000

source: mandiehman on Instagram

Above: Our 5-year-old trying to work up the courage to jump in the pool. She did this for about 20 minutes before she finally jumped, and it just about broke my heart in two watching her internal struggle between fear and want-to!

The past week has been very busy and very full…in all the very best ways! We’ve had time with family and friends, spent hours and hours and hours in the pool, been to a baseball game and a dinosaur museum, indulged in frozen yogurt and ice cream, celebrated birthdays, shopped and shopped some more (mama needs clothes!) and even given the girls their standardized tests. (See a few snapshots of our vacation so far here!)

I was a little nervous that two weeks at my parents’ house might be too long for all of us, but the first 9 days have flown by, and I’m sure the rest will as well, especially with more family and friends visiting this weekend! On Thursday we’re heading to Orland for four days at Disney World and the Disney Social Media Moms conference, and we’re beyond excited to see Merida’s Royal Celebration (as she’s officially crowned a Disney Princess — did you know they did that?) and enjoy all of the other wonderful surprises they have planned for us.

This trip has definitely been a great way to celebrate the end of morning sickness and kick off the summer, and I’m actually working on some pretty big changes here at Life Your Way that I’ll be sharing with you soon as well!

Have you gotten your Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle? The sale ends today (5/4), and there won’t be any late sales, so you’ll want to do that soon!

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!

Motherhood {Grace for the Journey}

Your Hard Is Hard | The Extraordinary Ordinary

Investing in Myself | Modern Mrs. Darcy

40 Things You Need to Know Before You’re 40 | A Holy Experience

Green {Baby Steps Matter}

Simple Steps to Safe and Natural Personal Care | Keeper of the Home

Real Food Tips: 10 Ways to Be Less Wasteful | 100 Days of Real Food

6 Easy Ways to Conserve Water | Live Renewed

Family {Screen Free and Lovin’ It}

Screen Free Week 2013 | Simple Kids

21 Ways to Entertain and Educate Children… Without Technology | Lifehack

101 Screen-Free Activites | ScreenFree.org

Have a great weekend!

	Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekend Reading: May 4, 2013 is a post from Life Your Way

]]>

Comments

Have SO much fun Mandi! If anyone deserves a few weeks away in ... by Kara Fleck
Oh Disney, how I love thee. I've been watching shows about ... by Del Marie Riley

Just One More Day to Get 97 eBooks for $29.97!

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:30:38 GMT

Just a quick reminder: if you haven’t yet gotten your Ultimate Homemaking Bundle, the sale ends at 11:59 p.m. EST tomorrow, Saturday 5/4!

This huge bundle includes 97 ebooks plus more than $140 in free product offers for just $29.97. That might sound too good to be true, but in this case? It’s really not!

My favorite resources in this bundle includes:

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler by Tsh @ Simple Mom

Write Through the Bible (cursive or print) by Trisha @ Intoxicated on Life

Tell Your Time by Amy @ Blogging with Amy

Mindset for Moms by Jamie @ Steady Days

That Works for Me! by Kristen @ We are THAT Family

Embracing Beauty by Trina @ Trina Holden

And my own How to Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too, of course!

These resources alone are worth more than the $29.97 package price, but you’ll also get 90 — yes, ninety — more ebooks!

Click here to read more about the bundle and purchase your copy. But hurry, because this offer won’t last long!

Just One More Day to Get 97 eBooks for $29.97! is a post from Life Your Way

5 Ways to Eat More Produce on the Go

Fri, 03 May 2013 12:00:35 GMT

The following post is from Shaina of Food for My Family and Olmanson Photography:

source: Shaina Olmanson | Food for My Family

Do you ever feel stuck when it comes to eating fresh produce? Sometimes, when I stare into my well-stocked refrigerator in search of a quick bite, no matter the amount of produce that seems to overflow from the shelves, I feel as if they aren’t a practical option for a fast lunch, an impromptu dinner, or a simple snack.

This past weekend I spent some time at The Big Summer Potluck, enjoying the weather in Murrieta, California and a picturesque organic avocado grove. During our Whole Foods’ catered lunch, they introduced this concept of a beans, greens, and grains bowl. A rainbow of produce was set out, red bell peppers, all shades of green from the pale green hue of a diced cucumber to the deep emerald green of sautéed collard greens and chard. Golden beets, tri-color quinoa, jet black beans, and sauces in a variety of shades were all available for consumption.

I found myself anticipating a meal composed of nothing but fresh ingredients, inspired by the food set out before me, and eager to dig in. It struck me, as it has often in the past, that sometimes what has me stopping short at eating healthy all meals and snacks of the day is not that I don’t crave fresh produce or enjoy eating it, but that I rationalize poor choices with a lack of time or the immediacy with which I need food to be available.

Like it or not, there are times that seem to force our hand to those aptly named convenience foods, making them look like reasonable options, perfectly packaged for just this occasion. Here are a few ways to help you see fresh produce and slow food as a legitimate option for those days that require a grab-and-go meal.

1.Keep it simple.

Produce often necessitates cooking. Rather than feel limited by time to wash and steam or blanch or sauté, stock your refrigerator with ingredients that can be eaten raw. Bell peppers, cucumbers, lettuces, tomatoes, carrots, avocados, and sprouts are all good options for things to have on hand. They aren’t the fanciest of vegetables, and they may not inspire a sautéed brussels sprouts and blue cheese dish, but they require little prep from fridge to table.

2. Prep is positive.

Part of my reluctance to reach for a full bell pepper for lunch is simply that getting a knife and cutting board out for multiple vegetables can seem like a production for a simple snack. Rather than halt your healthy eating, simply have a few containers of cut produce at the ready. Spend 10 minutes as you unload your groceries and create a few containers of chopped and diced vegetables that can be added to a salad or bowl without any forethought.

3. Canned beans are your friend.

While I find the process of soaking and cooking beans a bit therapeutic, it definitely falls under the “slow food” category and not “quick and easy.” Having a readily available protein for lunch can be as simple as opening a can. Stock your cupboard with a variety of BPA-free canned beans that can be used for just that purpose, and spend your soaking time for more well-planned meals.

4. Splash it with sauce.

Sauce is essential to a varied and interesting bowl of fresh. Stock your pantry with rice wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, sriracha, and tabasco that will easily add flavor and character to your meal. Finish it up with fresh citrus juice and a splash of oil or a spoonful of your favorite salsa.

5.Don’t forget the finish.

Adding a bit of indulgence to a bowl of produce can make it stick with you and satiate your stomach for a longer period of time. A few sunflower seeds or nuts, a sprinkle of rich cheese or a spoonful of bacon bits can help take the bowl from blah to brilliant.

What are your favorite grab-and-go items to keep on hand?

	Shaina Olmanson is the home cook and photographer behind Food for My Family and the author of Desserts in Jars: 50 Sweet Treats that Shine. She is a contributor to Babble.com’s Family Kitchen Blog and the food channel on Lifetime Moms. Shaina can usually be found cooking, at the computer or behind the camera.

5 Ways to Eat More Produce on the Go is a post from Life Your Way

6 Steps to a Mix and Match Wardrobe

Thu, 02 May 2013 22:30:06 GMT

The following is a guest post from Trina of TrinaHolden.com:

Have you ever looked into a closet full of clothes and cried, “But I have nothing to wear!”

I have. I used to spend hours rifling through my clothes, frustrated to the point of tears, struggling to understand my inability to create an outfit with so many hangers full of options.

Finally, I realized that the problem was not too few options, but too many. I had too many colors and too many different styles. I needed to narrow my focus to a tighter color scheme in order to build a wardrobe that worked together and worked for me.

If your closet is packed but you can’t make a match, you need to follow these 6 steps to building a mix-and-match wardrobe:

1. Start with your favorite bright color.

Don’t worry about what’s ‘in style’ this season, this is about you. Choose a color that’s a perennial favorite with you, one you come back to over and over. This will be the foundation of your wardrobe, and allow you to love every outfit you create. {Mine was Fuchsia.}

2. Add a secondary shade that coordinates with your favorite.

You want something that looks good next to your favorite color, without overwhelming it. This is your supporting actress. {I chose Navy Blue.}

3. Choose 2-3 neutrals that compliment your brights.

I define neutrals as black, white, and anything in between, as well as earth tones like browns, khakis, and tinted greys. {My neutrals became black, white, and stone grey.}

4. Purchase 3-6 pants or skirts in your personal neutrals.

Choose pants that flatter you, not simply styles that are trending. Find skirt lengths that are right for your legs, and stick with them no matter where this year’s hemlines have bounced to. {I got rid of lengths that didn’t flatter, and have stuck with two favorite styles: maxis and knee-length.}

5. Purchase 3-6 tops in your personal colors.

This is where it get’s fun! Choose tops in varying shades of your favorite and complimentary colors. Don’t be afraid to choose a pattern or bit of styling that’s new or different for you. When you’re following a strong color scheme and choosing bottoms in coordinating neutrals, you’re guaranteed to be able to match it to something. {I love gathers, shiny fabrics, and stripes!}

6. Don’t forget 2-3 tanks!

Layering tanks add fun and depth to any outfit, and many blouses or tops won’t work without one. Again, choose these in a few neutrals and at least one bright so they work under lots of your tops. {I love both spaghetti strap and full strap to compliment a variety of necklines.}

Final Tips:

Realize that you may already own some great core pieces in your favorite colors or neutrals–you just need to add more in that color scheme to give you options.

Make sure each article you purchase matches at least two other tops/or bottoms.

Make your jewelery and accessory purchases in the same color scheme, allowing yourself some bolder statement pieces because you know you’ll have stuff to match.

With the purchase of 10-15 articles of clothing, you’ve created an entire wardrobe full of colors you love and easy co-ordinations. Now you can have fun every time you step into your closet because your wardrobe works together like a puzzle. The pieces in the graphic above mix and match to create a whopping 35 different combinations!

Need more help building a wardrobe that works for you and makes you smile? Check out my book, Embracing Beauty: Practical Style for Every Shape and Season of Motherhood for more fashion tips and to find out how I build my mix and match wardrobe frugally from the thrift store!

What is your favorite piece of clothing?

Trina is a mom of 3 who regularly schedules field trips to the thrift store. You can find her wearing purple most days, jotting down words that beg to be written in between cooking whole foods, homeschooling, and laughter-filled conversations with friends. Find her at TrinaHolden.com!

6 Steps to a Mix and Match Wardrobe is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Family Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

How to Choose the Best Seeds for Your Garden

Thu, 02 May 2013 16:30:14 GMT

The following post is from Victoria of Project Homestead:

source: projecthomestead.com

All winter long, gardeners itching to see bare dirt and smell warming soil pore over seed catalogs to dream about the possibilities ahead. But amid our bounty of great seed choices, deciding what to plant can feel, well, daunting. It doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re starting your first garden or you’ve hoed a row or two, there are just a handful of things to know when choosing the best seeds for you.

“Days to Harvest”

This number tells you how long it takes a plant to mature from seed. Make sure you have enough frost-free days to match this window. It’s easy to estimate for the first and last frost dates where you live. Winter squash, potatoes, peppers and eggplant require fairly long (frost-free) growing seasons. Lettuce, kale, arugula, and herbs are quick—so you can plant them anytime.

Taste

Heirloom varieties are time-tested seeds grown (and loved) by generations of gardeners. They’re often recognized for their superb taste, beauty or other charming qualities. But many modern varieties and hybrids are a close second—and may offer better resistance to disease. I’m going to try “Sweet Mama” squash because it’s said to be especially yummy.

source: projecthomestead.com

Pest & Disease Resistance

Some varieties are bred to resist certain diseases, which makes them easier to grow in a season when the weather is less than ideal. They’re a great bet if you’re unsure about your garden conditions. Johnny’s Selected Seeds (and other seed suppliers) offer “Easy Choice” crops, varieties that are a sure bet for beginning gardeners.

Your Micro-climate

Is your garden sunny or shady most of the time? Do you have heavy soil that’s often wet, or is it sandy, light and dry? If a seed packet says “prefers well-drained soils,” that means its seeds may rot in a wet year or in soggy soils. Choose varieties and crops that will tolerate—if not thrive in—your spot.

How You Plan to Use Them

Depending on how you plan to use veggies from your garden can help decide which variety to grow. For example, some cucumbers are plump and perfect for making pickles, while others are slender and almost seedless, which make them great for slicing and fresh eating. Your packet (or your seed catalog) will mention special notes like these.

source: missyredboots

Direct Seeding or Transplants

Some crops grow best when started indoors first, then transplanted outside once they have a strong root system. If a seed company doesn’t give instructions for direct-seeding, assume you’ll need to buy or start your own transplants. Celery, tomatoes, and peppers don’t take well to direct seeding, but you can toss lettuce, carrots, beets, peas and corn seeds right into warm soil.

How Much Time You Have

If you have little patience for weeding, stick with crops that you can mulch and leave alone. Lettuce, baby greens, carrots, and beets require attention to keep weeds from crowding them out. But others, including cucumbers, squash, onions, kale, rhubarb, and most herbs don’t. Surround them with straw or other mulch and you can practically ignore them until harvest time.

source: stock.xchng

Diversity

And unless you’ve grown a particular seed (in your garden) with great results, it’s a good idea to buy two varieties of each crop whenever you can. Each variety reacts differently to pests, disease, weather and soil conditions, so planting a mix improves your odds of having a great harvest—no matter what surprises Mother Nature brings.

Happy gardening.

What are your favorite seeds to grow?

Victoria is a writer and editor who lives with her husband and two boys, seven hens, thousands of honeybees, and far too many woodchucks on a homestead-in-the-making in southern Maine. When she’s not gardening, chicken herding, sewing, or learning how to aim a shotgun, she blogs about it at Project Homestead.

How to Choose the Best Seeds for Your Garden is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Green Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

DIY Satin Flower and Grosgrain Ribbon Napkin Rings

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:08 GMT

The following post is from Janel of Life with Lucie and Ella.:

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Spring is here and so are the opportunities to set a pretty table — Mother’s Day, Baby Showers, and Wedding Showers! Add a little pizazz to your place settings with some inexpensive (but beautiful) napkin rings. Although you can create these napkin rings using my original satin flowers, these circular ones are a bit easier and quicker to make since they don’t require nearly the same number of petals.

With these step by step instructions, you should have a set of napkin rings in no time.

How to Make a Circular Satin Flower:

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Supplies:

circular shape to use as template (I used the bottom of a paper cup.)

costume satin in two colors — one for flowers, one for leaves

ballpoint pen

fabric scissors

tealight candle and match

needle

colored thread

hot glue gun and gluesticks

Directions:

Trace and cut out three circles of different sizes. To make it easier, trace your circular template three times onto the costume satin for each flower and cut out. Then, trim two of the circles to make them smaller. If you want, you can fold the circles into quarters and trim around the edges. Freehand two leaves per flower out of the green satin.

source: Janel from Life with L and E

WARNING: Please exercise caution and common sense when using an open flame during this craft! You may wish to keep a bowl of water nearby in case you need it.

Light the candle. Hold the edge of each satin circle close to, but not in, the flame. This will melt the edges of the satin to help prevent it from fraying. Then, to give the circle a little more texture, hold the circle above the flame in various spots to pucker the satin slightly.

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Stack the three circles with the largest on the bottom and the smallest on the top. Use a needle and colored thread to stitch the circles together and create the center of the flower.

source: Life with L and E

Use the candle to seal the edges of the green leaves just as you did for the flower circles. To add additional dimension to them, fold each leaf in half lengthwise and pass the fold along the candle flame to create a line. Be very careful not too burn your fingers — this is a little more difficult because the folded leaves are thinner than the flower circles.

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Use hot glue to affix the leaves to the backside of the flower.

How to Create a Grosgrain Napkin Ring:

Supplies:

satin flower (as described above)

green grosgrain ribbon

hot glue gun and gluesticks

Directions:

Cut a length of ribbon that is large enough to wrap around the napkins you plan to use. Use hot glue to glue the ribbon into a circle.

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Add some hot glue to where the two ends of ribbon meet and press the backside of the satin flower onto the glue. Hold firmly until the glue cools and hardens.

source: Janel from Life with L and E

Related Posts:

DIY Satin Flowers – Make these flowers as an alternative for the napkin rings. Or, use some of both!

DIY Cloth Napkins – Get the look you want with custom cloth napkins.

DIY Braided Vine Napkin Rings – Use this braided vine for your napkin rings instead of the grosgrain ribbon.

DIY Felt Cup Identifiers – Make these cup identifiers a little bit more fancy by using satin flowers instead!

How do you set a pretty table for special occasions?

Janel is a stay-at-home mom of two and law school wife. Raised in a budget-conscious and do-it-yourself minded family, she loves seeing something in a store or magazine and making her own version at home for less money. Janel blogs about motherhood, crafts and recipes at Life with Lucie and Ella.

DIY Satin Flower and Grosgrain Ribbon Napkin Rings is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of DIY Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Free Kindle Books {5/2/13}

Thu, 02 May 2013 11:00:55 GMT

One of the most popular features of our sister site, Jungle Deals & Steals, are our free Kindle book lists. With 15-20 free ebooks every day, these are a great way to load up your Kindle without breaking the bank, and Kindle books can also be read on smartphones, computers and tablets with the Kindle app from Amazon.

Here’s a quick list of some of the freebies that are currently available, but be sure to head over to Jungle Deals & Steals for new freebies today…or subscribe to our daily freebies email so you don’t miss a single book!

Fiction

Maui Widow Waltz (Islands of Aloha Mystery Series) by JoAnn Bassett
Genre: Mysteries
Reviews:  (81 reviews)

The Silver Locket (Choc Lit) by Margaret James
Genre: Historical Romance
Reviews:  (6 reviews)

Beautiful Day — Free Preview — The First Three Chapters by Elin Hilderbrand
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Reviews:  (1 review)

Signs and Wonders (Annie Grace adventures) by Alex Adena
Genre: Short Stories
Reviews:  (1 review)

A Texas Legacy Christmas by DiAnn Mills
Genre: Christian
Reviews:  (9 reviews)

Nonfiction

Power Verbs for Job Seekers: Hundreds of Verbs and Phrases to Bring Your Resumes, Cover Letters, and Job Interviews to Life by Michael Lawrence Faulkner
Genre: Guides
Reviews:  (5 reviews)

Natural Cleaning Recipes: Essential Oils Recipes to Safely Clean Your Home, Save Money, and Protect Your Family (Essential Oils Books) by Becki Andrus
Genre: Cleaning & Caretaking
Reviews:  (1 review)

Marketing Metrics: The Definitive Guide to Measuring Marketing Performance (2nd Edition) by Paul W. Farris
Genre: Research
Reviews:  (17 reviews)

In Living Color: The Lord’s Prayer by Paul W. Meier
Genre: New Testament
Reviews:  (13 reviews)

Breakfast Mug Menus: Quick & Easy Meals for Everyone by K.H. Gardner
Genre: Breakfast
Reviews:  (1 review)

Children’s Books

ABC Animals – An Alphabetical Rhyming Children’s Picture Book ( Fun Ebooks For Kids ) by Mark Smith
Genre: Animals
Reviews:  (18 reviews)

Childrens eBooks – Where Is Love by Barry J. McDonald
Genre: Christian
Reviews:  (16 reviews)

The Flower Traube (Mystery Detective Bert # 3) by Elle A. Kagoena
Genre: Mysteries
Reviews:  (3 reviews)

See more Kindle freebies here.

Free Kindle Books {5/2/13} is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Money Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Five Authentic Writing Activities for Children

Wed, 01 May 2013 22:30:40 GMT

The following post is from Angie of Many Little Blessings:

source: Erin Kohlenberg

Writing seems to be one of those subjects with which many homeschooling families struggle. Without knowing a homeschooling family very well, you can often guess that if you ask, “What writing curriculum have you used,” you’ll get a myriad of answers all from the same family. Families often get so caught up in finding the perfect writing curriculum that they forget about all of the wonderful real life writing opportunities that abound.

Here are five authentic writing activities for your children:

Prayer Journal

A prayer journal can include copywork with Bible verses, the child’s own prayers, times when your child has found God working in their lives, or reflections on life and God’s creation. It is best to let your child know ahead of time if this is something that you would like to have shared with you or if it will be personal, especially if they will be writing their own prayers and reflections.

Greeting Cards

Not only a way to work on writing, but this activity can also integrate in some art. For younger children, these greeting cards may be as simple as a picture with a message such as “Happy Birthday!” For older children, challenge them to write messages, verses, or poems on the inside of the cards after decorating the front.

Tutorials and Instructional Guides

This is a perfect writing activity for many reluctant young writers because it can give them the opportunity to write about something that they are passionate about. While your budding musician may wrinkle his nose at the idea of writing a story, he may be happy to write out directions for someone to help them learn how to tune a guitar.

Family Newsletter

This can be a fun way to not only send out information to family and friends about what your family has been doing, but it’s also a perfect opportunity to share some of the work you’re doing in your homeschool as well. Children can write about family events, as well as to share stories, poems, neighborhood news reports, comic strips, an advice column, book or movie reviews, and more.

Emails

While many adults are overwhelmed by a constantly full email inbox, receiving emails can still be a novel experience for children. In fact, it can be so novel that they may excitedly type away to a friend or family member when they might otherwise complain about traditional letter writing. After we set up an email address for one of our sons, I found out that he and my Mom had been regularly exchanging emails. It was a perfect way for him to practice a variety of writing skills, as well as to visit with his Grandma.

What writing activities have been met with the most success at your house?

Angie, a domestically-challenged writer and artist, is a homeschooling mom to three children. She writes about everything that happens in their lives between all the loads of laundry at Many Little Blessings. She is also the founder of The Homeschool Classroom, Catholic Mothers Online, and Just a Tiny Owl.

Five Authentic Writing Activities for Children is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Family Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

3 To-Do List Apps for Your Computer or Mobile Device

Wed, 01 May 2013 12:03:06 GMT

The following post is from Michelle of Mommy Misadventures:

source: Justin See

I love making to do lists. There’s just something seriously satisfying about making a list and checking off the items one by one as you go. Being the digital junkie that I am, I was so excited when more robust digital task management services started becoming popular. Now instead of just creating digital to do lists, these task management services integrate with popular mail and calendaring applications for a far more organized experience.

Here are three of my top favorite to do lists that are available across the popular desktop and mobile platforms.

All three of these task management services are free to use but have premium service options.

Wunderlist

Available for: web/iOS/Android/Windows/Mac

source: Michelle Mista

Wunderlist is a sleek task management application that allows you to easily create and organize task lists. You can create recurring tasks, as well as a limited number of subtasks, and set priority. Wunderlist integrates with Facebook.

Wunderlist offers a premium option for $4.99 per month or $49.99 annually, which allows you to delegate tasks to other users, create an unlimited number of subtasks, and access to a variety of backgrounds. According to the Wunderlist website, file attachment for premium users is slated for future updates.

Astrid

Available for: web/iOS/Android/Windows/Mac

source: Michelle Mista

Astrid is a task management service with an easy to use interface. Task creation options include three levels of priority setting, task assignment (even to non-Astrid users) and an extensive notes and commenting feature. Astrid offers integration with both Facebook and Google. It also includes widgets for the Android platform.

Astrid offers a premium option for $5 per month or $50 annually, which buys you the ability to attach files (including PDFs, images, and documents), and voice backup and notes.

Remember the Milk

Available for: web/iOS/Android/Blackberry

source: Michelle Mista

Since its launch in 2004, Remember the Milk has been a popular choice for task management. Compared to Wunderlist and Astrid, Remember the Milk’s(RTM) UI is a bit clunky and dated, but its task creation and management options more robust than either Wunderlist or Astrid, offering location, tagging, time estimation, and URL options in addition to priority setting and notes.

RTM’s free service allows you to create tasks and lists, integration with Google calendar and Gmail, add tasks using Siri (on iOS devices) and task sharing. For $25 annually, RTM offers syncing with Microsoft Outlook, unlimited syncing between devices as well as the ability to use Android widgets.

Do you use an online to do list application to help organize your day? What’s your favorite?

Michelle Mista is an IT professional, writer and blogger with a love for all kinds of technology. She writes about tech tips and trends for work at home professionals on her portfolio blog and muses about motherhood at Mommy Misadventures. She is on the constant quest to balance life, work and geekery.

3 To-Do List Apps for Your Computer or Mobile Device is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Tech Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Raising Digital Families in the 21st Century

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:48:56 GMT

We try to live a fairly simple, old fashioned life in many ways. We’re a one-car family; we mostly avoid disposable products in our kitchen; we believe kids need hours to roam outside and play and, yes, be bored.

But…I also make my living on the internet, the girls love being able to text and FaceTime their grandparents from the iPod, and Teaching Textbooks (a digital math curriculum) has saved our sanity this year.

Navigating the digital world is tricky enough for an adult, and with children steadily marching toward the pre-teen and teen years, I spend a lot of time thinking about the rules and boundaries we’ll put into place as they get older.

The truth is that even though I’m fairly immersed in the online and social media world myself, the rules and pitfalls and, unfortunately, dangers for children and teenagers are an entirely different issue altogether.

Thankfully, my good friend, Amy Lupold Bair, has written the guide for parents for raising digital families — Raising Digital Families for Dummies. She spent hours and hours and hours researching and writing a handbook that is full of practical information and commonsense wisdom.

With information on monitoring programs for computers and mobile devices, advice for dealing with cyberbullies, tips for children who want to blog and templates for developing a digital family policy, this book is a must-have for any family that uses technology in this day and age!

Disclosure: Amy is a personal friend, I received a complimentary copy of this book and the links above are affiliate links. But I really do believe this book is an important read for today’s families, and all opinions above are 100% mine!

Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Raising Digital Families in the 21st Century is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Tech Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Use It or Lose It: The Case for Giving, Donating or Selling Instead of Storing

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:30:20 GMT

The following post is from Rachel of The Minimalist Mom:

source: Rachel Jonat

The phrase “Use It Or Lose It” came to mind recently as I organized our cloth diapering supplies.

They had been boxed up for close to two years and after one wash the elastics in the legs and back fell apart.

Admittedly, I was surprised.

I had naively thought that those sweet pocket diapers were eagerly waiting for our second child as much as I was and would be in as good a condition as when I packed them away.

The truth: the elastics had been aging even without use. Even the PUL outer of one of the diapers had felt the effects of time and the waterproof layer was separating from the fabric.

Time, gravity and the environment will age your things even if you’re not using them.

Those clothes you boxed up for a former or future lifestyle, they’re wearing out even if no one is wearing them.

All those someday items, the ones in your garage, attic, and in your most visited drawers and closets, they are all aging.

And if and when someday turns into today, they may not be of use to you or anyone else. Damp, mice and moths are slowly eating away at so many boxes of household goods stored for that day when they finally might be of use. Often that day never comes or arrives well beyond the expiry date of the contents.

It can be better to loan out, sell or give something away while it still has life to it, than hold onto it for years and years without using it.

It not only feels good to clear a bit of clutter, it feels great to know your things are being used and appreciated.

Here’s the other saying I now think of when I consider putting things away for “someday”: A Bird In Hand is Worth Two in the Bush.

I’d rather help a friend or have some money in my Paypal account or know that a charity was finding a home for my stuff, than box a lot of it up with the hope that we will someday use it again.

Lucky for me my cloth diapers are back in working order after I exchanged the old elastics for new, but I know not all of my things can be refreshed or repaired after a few years in storage.

With that in mind, I am again just keeping a small amount of baby items and clothes for when/if we have another child. I’ve also given myself a deadline for using them. If we haven’t had another baby by then, or aren’t close to it, they will be out the door.

I am sure it will be an emotional day when I part with our infant gear for good, but it will hopefully also be a happy day: I’ll be helping another family welcome a new baby.

How do you decide what to give away and what to store away for someday?

Rachel Jonat is a former world medalist rower turned marketing professional turned SAHM/writer. At The Minimalist Mom, Rachel writes about living a rich life with less stuff. Currently living on a windswept island in the middle of the Irish Sea, Rachel owns two pairs of jeans, lives without a car and is attempting to become a tea drinker.

Use It or Lose It: The Case for Giving, Donating or Selling Instead of Storing is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Home Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

4 Simple Ways to Decorate with Books

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 12:00:29 GMT

The following post is from Myra of My Blessed Life:

source: myblessedlife.net

Whenever I rearrange the accessories in my home, I usually use books to help change things up. Decorating with books is an easy, inexpensive way to add a punch of texture and color. Finding books at yard sales, second-hand stores or the library used book room is one of my favorite things to do. Old books have such great personality.

Decorating with books has endless possibilities.

Here are my favorite simple ways to use books in my home decor.

1. Stack

When arranging a mantel or table vignette, books are perfect for stacking up as “faux risers.” It can be a little boring to have everything on the same level, so adding varying height with books is a perfect solution.

2. Accessorize

Books are probably one of the most inexpensive accessories. For 0.25 each or less, it’s easy to find books to decorate bookshelves. If you prefer a strictly neutral color scheme, use books that are black, grey, brown, cream and white. And if you enjoy a punch of color, accessorize with bright and happy colored books.

3. Craft

Thanks to Pinterest there are a multitude of book page crafts that have been done. From wreaths and ornaments to wall art, flowers, decoupaged book page eggs and book page trees, the creativity is astounding. If you struggle with crafting, try working with book pages. The cost is minimal, so if you don’t like how a craft turns out, just toss it and try again.

4. Turn Them Backwards

This one will probably make some of you cringe. In our last two houses, we had book shelves in our living room. I got so tired of seeing all the book spines with all their various colors staring at me all the time. It was just busy to me for some reason. I got a wild hair one day and turned all the books around with the spines toward the wall. I loved the calm that the white and ivory pages brought to the space. If you’re bored with a bookshelf in your home, just try turning the books around and see what you think! You might be surprised.

Do you decorate with books at your house?

Myra has a B.A. in Interior Design and is currently self-employed. When she’s not spending time with her little man, thrifting, creating, shopping or working on a project, Myra enjoys date nights with her husband and blogging at My Blessed Life.

4 Simple Ways to Decorate with Books is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of DIY Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Simple Ways to Get in the Habit of Saving

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 22:30:12 GMT

The following post is from Christina of Northern Cheapskate:

source: SeniorLiving.org

As my husband and I dug our way out of debt, we often reminded ourselves that getting to debt-free was a marathon, not a sprint. While it was easy to get into debt, it takes an incredible amount of time, energy, and determination to get rid of that debt.

So, if the journey out of debt is a marathon, then learning to save money is lot like marathon training. You have to condition those saving muscles so that you are able to keep saving even when things are tough. You’ve got to develop the stamina to keep moving toward your financial goals.

Here are several great ways to create a savings habit:

Pay yourself first.

One of the simplest ways to develop the savings habit is to pay yourself first. What does that mean? It means that whenever you come into money – whether it is a paycheck or a windfall – put some of it into savings before you do anything else. It’s easy to set up a direct deposit to your savings account, and you can make sure money is automatically transferred from your paycheck to a retirement account, too.   Ideally, you should be setting aside 10 to 20 percent of your income into savings, but just remember that every little bit counts.

By putting money into savings first, you’re training yourself to live within your means. And because you’re making saving automatic, you won’t be as tempted to spend that money.

Save your spare change.

Another simple way to save is to put all of your spare change into a jar. Other folks pledge to put every $1 or every $5 bill they get into a savings jar. It doesn’t take long at all for that little bit of “extra” money to add up. And when you can visibly see your savings grow, you’ll be more motivated to save even more.

Focus on your goals.

Set good financial goals and regularly review them. If you’re saving for something special, post a picture of it on your bathroom mirror or put a snapshot of the item with your wallet. When you are reminded of what you are saving for, it becomes easier to stay on course.

Surround yourself with other savers.

Connect with family and friends who are also making it a goal to save money. You’ll be able to share experiences and frugal living ideas to help you reach your goals, and you won’t be tempted to spend money frivolously. Read inspiring money-saving books and websites to keep you motivated.

Celebrate your success.

Once you’re in the habit of developing savings habits, don’t forget to celebrate your success with a small reward. By treating yourself (maybe with a dinner out or a small gadget), you’re reminding yourself of the accomplishments you’ve made. Saving without goals and without rewards is far too daunting and makes you more likely to go back to spendthrift ways.

Learning to save money is hard, but when you start slowly and confidently, you will develop the skills to make saving automatic.

How do you stay motivated when it comes to saving money?

Christina Brown is the creator of Northern Cheapskate, a blog dedicated to frugal living through coupons, freebies, and money-saving ideas. She lives in the rural north woods of Minnesota where she clips coupons, pinches pennies, and chases her three boys (a 7-year-old and twin 5-year olds) as a stay-at-home mom.

Simple Ways to Get in the Habit of Saving is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Money Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Weekly Reads + Books That Change Your Life {4/29/13}

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:30:01 GMT

I though that I might get a few hours of reading in during our 18-hour drive last week, but I ended up just chatting with Sean and the girls for most of the drive instead (and discovered I’m a lot more patient when I don’t have a book in my hand in the car!), and so I only got about halfway through one book this week. Hopefully our vacation will afford me more reading time at some point, although that doesn’t seem to be happening so far!

Head here to see Katie’s post for this week. We also want to know what you’re reading! Add your blog post to the linky below or leave a comment with your favorite reads from this week.

This Week’s Reads

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The first time I picked up The Screwtape Letters, I had no idea what it was, and I was pretty confused by the conversation taking place between Screwtape and Wormwood. Once I figured out the premise of the book — letters between two devils about how to best lead a new Christian astray — I thoroughly enjoyed both the writing and the insight into the human condition that C.S. Lewis is known for. So much of what he writes hits close to home for my own struggles in relationships and faith even 70+ years after it was written.

And like most classics, I enjoy it more each time I read it, underlining and highlighting more and more each time!

A Question for You

When I was in junior high and highschool, I often reread books, including most of Janette Oke’s historical fiction and both China Cry and Run Baby Run, which got me hooked on biographies/memoirs and are still part of my collection. These books all had a huge impact on my faith during those years, and when I discovered The Screwtape Letters as a young adult, I added it to the list of books that had actually impacted my life and faith.

What is your all-time favorite book? What book has had the biggest impact on your life? What book have you reread multiple times?

Share Your Reading List

Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekly Reads + Books That Change Your Life {4/29/13} is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Family Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Productive Thinking: What to Do with All Those Ideas in Your Head

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 13:00:32 GMT

The following post is from Prerna of The Mom Writes:

source: pixabay

My head is often abuzz with ideas. Every book I read sparks a new creative light. Every blog post I go through inspires me to create something. It’s not always work-related. Projects related to the home, crafts to do with my daughter, baking experiments waiting to be tried out. The list is endless and my head becomes a whirlwind of activity.

The thing is that creative surges like these happen all too often and to nearly all of us. With the inflow of a HUGE amount of visual{thank you, Pinterest!} and textual inspiration these days, it is relatively easy to be inspired, motivated and filled with ideas to change our own lives.

However, there are questions that need to be answered so that we actually get something done and don’t lose our mind in the process.

Questions like,

What to do?

Which idea to implement first?

Which area of my life needed the brightest spark right away?

Which idea may not be a “good idea” after all?

Yes, too many ideas is a good problem to have if you know what to do with them. I realized I had to come up with a system to channelize my creative surges and find a way to actually realize at least some of these ideas productively and intentionally.

Here is my 4-step approach to productive thinking when you have too many ideas and honestly, too little time:

1. Have a recording system.

The first thing to do is have some sort of recording system for all those ideas. It can be a simple journal, the Notes app on your smartphone, a fancier tool like, Evernote or Pinterest even. Whatever you do, try not to have too many of your recording systems. For instance, don’t have a journal, a recorder AND Post-Its. If you have to have multiple systems, choose TWO and stick to them.

The idea is that you have someplace to record all those flashes of inspiration so that you have them in ONE handy place to review. {see next step}

2. Review your idea file weekly and monthly.

Every week, spend some time reviewing each idea and sorting it into categories – life, kids, work, home, husband, relationships. I like to keep the categories broad so I have Self, Home, Family, Business. You can create a system that works well for you and your needs.

I also recommend reviewing the file monthly to see which of those ideas you may have already implemented without even realizing it. For instance, one of the ideas I had sometime last month was to create a monthly summer activity calendar for my 5-year old with links to posts that had the craft ideas. I started a simple Word document on my laptop and kept plugging in links I found interesting. When I did my monthly review, I realized I’d already actioned the idea and just crossed it off.

A monthly review is also a good time for a quality audit, which is our next step.

3. Run a quality audit…objectively.

When you’re doing your monthly review of the Ideas file, sort through the ideas and objectively see which ones are the real diamonds-in-the-rough and which ones are well, too rough to be anything. Now this exercise does depend upon the season of your life.

However, there are some basic guidelines that I follow:

Will implementing this idea improve the quality of my life/family/business?

Will actioning this idea give me immense joy/happiness/money?

Will the idea have a good return on investment or ROI in terms of effort investment vs experience?

Do I REALLY, like truly, madly, deeply want to do this?

If I answer “yes” to at least 2 out of the 4 questions, I let the idea simmer awhile longer in the file, else I cross it off and move on.

4. Create an action plan and act on it.

My final step and probably the most crucial one to dealing with too many ideas is to create an action plan for the real gems and then, work it. My process is to pick at least ONE idea each month for all 4 categories. But we all know life as a mom and entrepreneur. Nothing predictable. Some months, it may be just ONE idea in all. Some months, none. Yes, it happens.

BUT once I create the action plan, I focus on working it and bringing that idea to life.

Like I said earlier, not every idea needs this step and some may get actioned without a plan. That is good but having a system in place to be more productive about what I work on and how I do it is always a blessing.

What do YOU think is the challenge of having too many ideas?

Prerna Malik is a mom, a wife, a writer and woman who believes in being postively productive, parenting with love and creating a home that invites you to put your feet up and relax. Find her sharing her journey and experiences with productivity and parenting at The Mom Writes.

Productive Thinking: What to Do with All Those Ideas in Your Head is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Work Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Get 5 eBooks for Your Digital Life for $7.40! {BundleoftheWeek.com}

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:01:42 GMT

Learn how to use the technology in your life to your advantage with this week’s collection of ebooks. You’ll discover the secrets to beautiful iPhone photos, how to get organized using free apps and programs, the beauty of online friendships and more. But don’t wait because this bundle is on sale for 70% off this week only!

With your purchase, you’ll get all five of the following ebooks:

Once Upon the Internet by Marla Taviano

iPhone Photography by Alli Worthington

Pin-terpretation by Holley Gerth & Stephanie Bryant

Paperless Home Organization by Mystie Winckler

Evernote for Moms by Lauren Rothlisberger

Get yours today!

Even if you’re not interested in this week’s bundle, be sure to sign up for the BundleoftheWeek.com weekly newsletter so you can be the first to know about the latest bundle:

Get 5 eBooks for Your Digital Life for $7.40! {BundleoftheWeek.com} is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Tech Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Get a FREE Dose of Vectra Flea & Tick Control for Your Dog!

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:30:47 GMT

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Vectra flea & tick control for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

source: Mandi Ehman

Because our winter felt long and cold, we thought we might finally get a break from the abundance of ticks we deal with each summer. Unfortunately, as it turns out, this year’s tick season started off earlier and stronger than usual.

We’re removing and flushing multiple ticks per day from our girls (and looking forward to our vacation to relatively tick-free Florida!), but thankfully we haven’t had to remove any from our sweet husky puppy, Bella.

Despite her love for exploring the tall grass around our home, she hasn’t gotten a single tick this year (unlike the one we had to remove from between her toes last fall!). We’ve tried a variety of flea and tick medicines with our cats and dogs in the past, but this year we picked up a free dose of Vectra flea & tick control from our vet, and we’ve been so happy with the results so far. I even find myself almost wishing they made a version for our kids, LOL!

Vectra 3D works fast, repelling and killing parasites (including fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flies, lice and certain mites) on contact, is easy to apply, and lasts for a month, even after bathing and swimming.

You won’t find Vectra at the store, but its carried by vets across the country. If our teeny town vet carries it, I’m pretty confident in saying one of your local vets does as well!

Protect the Love Sweepstakes

Enter Vectra’s Protect the Love sweepstakes on Facebook to win a $100 gift card toward your next vet visit! Entrants will also receive a coupon for a FREE dose of Vectra Flea and Tick Control when they visit FirstDoseFree.com.

Hurry and get your free dose today!

Be sure to like Vectra on Facebook and follow @VectraPet on Twitter for special offers, cute pet photos and more!

Get a FREE Dose of Vectra Flea & Tick Control for Your Dog! is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Family Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

Weekend Reading: April 27, 2013

Mandi — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:20:46 +0000

source: mandiehman on Instagram

Eighteen hours in the car with four tired little girls and a very curious puppy was well worth it for a full day spent swimming, eating fro-yo and hanging out with Nona and Pop yesterday…and the promise of many more of those days to come!

Our weekly newsletter is currently on hold as I muddle through the first trimester, but be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future issues!

Here are some of my favorite posts from this week. As always, check out what I’m reading to see the other posts that make me stop and think. You’ll find new posts all week long!

Family {We’re Going to Disney World!}

Random Acts of Disney: 10 Magical Stories | Babble

Epic Fail: Disneyland Surprises Gone Wrong | Roadside Assistance

Home {Simple Living with Kids}

Decluttering & Kids: Inspiring Kids to Live Simply | Keeper of the Home

5 Ways to Manage Home and School | SimpleHomeschool.net

Life {Intentional and Joyful}

Speak Joy | Becoming Minimalist

Stuck in the Doldrums: An Attack Plan | Jen Hatmaker

Flowing with the Stresses of Kids (or anyone else) | ZenHabits

Have a great weekend!

Mandi Ehman is the founder and publisher behind Life Your Way and the co-author of All in Good Time, as well as a wife and the homeschooling mom to four beautiful girls. She lives with her family on a little slice of heaven in wild, wonderful West Virginia and loves coffee, chocolate, easy meals, beautiful things and minimalist spaces.

Weekend Reading: April 27, 2013 is a post from Life Your Way
© 2010-2013 Purple Martin Press, LLC | All rights reserved - This feed is provided for the convenience of Life Your Way subscribers. Any reproduction of the content within this feed is strictly prohibited. If you are reading this content elsewhere, please send an email to contact@yourway.net to let us know. Thanks.

]]>

	Trina is a mom of 3 who regularly schedules field trips to the thrift store. You can find her wearing purple most days, jotting down words that beg to be written in between cooking whole foods, homeschooling, and laughter-filled conversations with friends. Find her at TrinaHolden.com!

	Victoria is a writer and editor who lives with her husband and two boys, seven hens, thousands of honeybees, and far too many woodchucks on a homestead-in-the-making in southern Maine. When she’s not gardening, chicken herding, sewing, or learning how to aim a shotgun, she blogs about it at Project Homestead.


	Rachel Jonat is a former world medalist rower turned marketing professional turned SAHM/writer. At The Minimalist Mom, Rachel writes about living a rich life with less stuff. Currently living on a windswept island in the middle of the Irish Sea, Rachel owns two pairs of jeans, lives without a car and is attempting to become a tea drinker.

	Myra has a B.A. in Interior Design and is currently self-employed. When she’s not spending time with her little man, thrifting, creating, shopping or working on a project, Myra enjoys date nights with her husband and blogging at My Blessed Life.